Heavy (faux?) ancient relief panel - name that deity!

[gino22]

I usually skip over these things, knowing next to nothing about them, but this one caught my eye. It’s very heavy for its size — a solid 12-15lbs. There is also some clay caked into the detail of the relief, possibly indicating age / exposure. Base is solid iron and quite heavy as well. Maybe not ancient, but at least an older souvenir piece, I would guess. Can anyone identify the deity / culture / era depicted? Indian? Aztec? Egyptian?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[gino22]

Measures 11.5x7x1.5” if that helps

 

[Ol' Kentuck]

I reckon that's a modern depiction of an 'Annunaki' diety; a basterdization off tha ancient Sumerian/Zoroastrian Snake diety and tha Hindu, Buddhist, Jainism Naga (half human, half serpent) dieties. Thanks to Giorgio Tsoukalos and tha television series Ancient Aliens there has been a renewed interest in this symbolism and these can be found jest about everywhere ye find New Agers.

 

[gino22]

I reckon that's a modern depiction of an 'Annunaki' diety; a basterdization off tha ancient Sumerian/Zoroastrian Snake diety and tha Hindu, Buddhist, Jainism Naga (half human, half serpent) dieties. Thanks to Giorgio Tsoukalos and tha television series Ancient Aliens there has been a renewed interest in this symbolism and these can be found jest about everywhere ye find New Agers.

View attachment 1689690

Thanks for the jumping-off point — could be! I think Annunaki are quite a bit more humanoid in most cases, whatever I have has a more chimera like appearance. Will have to look into more imagery of this sort.

 

[Ol' Kentuck]

Good luck!

 

[GibH]

It's a naga, Hindu mythology.

 

[gino22]

here is the back. Looks to have been chiseled off a larger surface. Will look into Naga. Thank u

 

[gino22]

Thanks for the naga tip... found this piece on eBay — seems to be a later style, but has the same signs of forced removal on the back. Seller estimates 500-1000 years old. I wonder if the relatively crude design of mine indicates earlier period or just a different take on this type of subject.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ancient-Ca...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I will add that most naga seem to have human heads and torsos and are often accompanied by human figures... have yet to find anything that has gator / snake head and serpent body w / human torso. Also noticing my guy holding wine casks or something of the sort. Gotta keep digging...

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very interesting piece, should display nice!

 

[gino22]

likely from Java according to an online appraisal. Anybody know this crocodile? Now I’m intrigued...

 

[gino22]

A member of another forum suggested it may be Champa in origin. Following this lead, I found that the creature depicted is likely some kind of Makara (hybrid sea monster). There are a couple books out there about Champa art, but my attempts to contact the authors have so far been fruitless.

Is there any way of ruling this out as a modern fake without resorting to thermoluminescence testing ($300+)? I’m very curious about this piece, but given its small size and $8-1200 ‘quick’ appraisal value, I’m wary of investing that much.