A Luristan spike butted ceremonial axehead, Early Iron Age, ca. 1200 - 800 BCE Objects of Everyday Use so such amulets

so such amulets

2003 My Grandmother and Me

these stones conveyed a balance between the warmth of life and the clarity of the divine

as lapis and carnelian were both regarded as protective and sacred stones in ancient Babylonian culture

Superb wearable art

A Luristan spike butted ceremonial axehead, Early Iron Age, ca. 1200 - 800 BCE Objects of Everyday Use so such amuletscast using the lost wax method; a spike butted axehead, the short, cylindrical shaft tube with three cords across each side, leading to four short, thick spikes down the rear spine of the socket. The flaring blade has a convex cutting edge, is ridged on both long sides, and is finely decorated with an incised floral and geometric decoration on both sides. Elaborate blades of this sort were used as parade weapons, as votives, and as attributes of cult