Fountain Fragment

CBS Register: Fragment of an early Babylonian terra-cotta fountain, 2 birds with ribbons around neck.

PBS XVI: Ninlil, goddess of atmosphere, riding on two winged dragons and followed by six more. The mythological animals, symbols of the stormy rain clouds, are spitting water through their open mouths. The hand-modelled relief is applied as a decoration on the outside of a terracotta fountain, a large jar from which eight fillets of water were spouting at the same time. The fragments were found in the bed of the Shatt-en-Nil, the old Chebar canal, dividing Nippur in two. A central group of two dragons supports Ninlil. They are seen in the front. Only their necks are forelegs are visible. Other dragons are marching right and left toward them. They have the body and head of a lion – or of a leopard - , the claws and wings of an eagle. Ninlil’s tunic is decorated with incised patterns and pellets marked here and there with a cross, in imitation of flocks of wool or of embroidery. Necklaces and pendants, one of which is an inverted crescent, are arranged in tiers about her neck.

joined to B9447