Belt
650 BCE-600 BCE
7th century BCE
116.8 cm (46 in.)
Anonymous
(active )
Primary
Object Type:
Metalwork
Artist Nationality:
Middle East, Urartia
Medium and Support:
Bronze
Credit Line:
Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin, Archer M. Huntington Museum Fund, 1983
Accession Number:
1983.124
The object originates from the ancient culture of Urartu that flourished in present-day Armenia from about 860 BCE to 590 BCE. The Urartians excelled in metalwork, the best examples of which are found in belts like the work presented here. These wide bronze strips were probably sewn to a leather backing and worn as personal decoration.
The Blanton’s belt features three horizontal rows of animals and human figures. A chariot with two horses and two figures chases a springing lion, which chases a mounted figure carrying a spear, which chases a galloping bull, which chases a mounted figure carrying a shield. Animal motifs like these inspired ancient Greek art during the eighth and seventh centuries BCE.