Tell F3 on Failaka Island

Højlund, Flemming; Hilton, Anna

doi:10.2307/j.ctv33jb55h

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“…In this discussion it will be argued that the appearance of a serpent/dragon slaying myth on the seals should be understood in connection with the political agenda of the royal dynasty of Dilmun. Højlund has previously suggested that the seals were issued from workshops under the auspices of the royal court (Højlund, 2016b: 8–11). Accordingly, seals with motifs such as “boat with horned figurehead” and “the serpent/dragon slaying myth” will here be understood through the lens of royal ideology and politics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6). The relatively early dating of this Style I seal is suggested by the fact that it was found in the earliest Early Dilmun period layer, Phase 2 (A226) of Tell F6 (Højlund & Abu‐Laban, 2016: 136). This seal is particularly noteworthy given the fact that here the early rendering of “mast‐with‐two‐lines” and “two‐men‐in‐a‐boat” is combined with the boat rendering characteristic of most of the later seals (Figure 2: nos.…”

Section: Boats From Dilmunmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Dr. Flemming Højlund, senior researcher emeriti, Moesgaard Museum is thanked for reading and commenting on this manuscript. Anna Hilton and Flemming Højlund are cordially thanked for allowing me to include two stamps seals with depictions of boats from their most recent excavations (2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017) in Failaka Tell F3 (Højlund & Hilton, 2021). Last but not least Anders Weitemeyer is cordially thanked for help with boat and nautical terminology.…”

Section: Ac K N Ow L E D G E M E N T Smentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dilmun boats on seals, horned figureheads, and the serpent/dragon slaying myth, c. 2050–1500 BC

Laursen

2020

Arab Archaeol Epigr

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Seals of Dilmun type from Bahrain and Failaka island (Kuwait) in 18 cases have depictions of boats. Contrary to previous studies, it is argued here that these vessels represent a distinct class of single‐masted sail boats and further that this boat type probably is synonymous with the “Dilmun boats” mentioned in Babylonian textual sources as a specific long‐distance vessel type native to Dilmun. The prow of the Dilmun boats typically exhibit a characteristic “figurehead” with two horns, large jaws and two forward‐projecting “prongs”. Based on comparatively similar looking serpent/dragon representations in Dilmun’s glyptic art and the mythological information that can be understood from the scene in which they appear, the horned figureheads of the Dilmun boats are identified as a possible Dilmunite goddess of the primordial sea, somehow comparable to the Babylonian Tiamat. Following analysis of this serpent/dragon on the seals, it is argued that there existed a Dilmunite version of the near omnipresent conflict myth. This myth and its distinct topos are discussed, and it is concluded that in Dilmun it played a role in royal ideology and the legitimisation of kingship.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Boats From Dilmunmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Ac K N Ow L E D G E M E N T Smentioning

confidence: 99%

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