Table decorated with serpents and deities bearing vessels spouting streams of water

myminifactory

This magnificent table, adorned with serpents and supported by deities carrying vessels that spout forth streams of water, was undoubtedly originally a sacred altar for sacrifices. The holes were intended to allow blood to drain away as water flowed from the vessels, echoing the importance of water in Mesopotamian mythology. Enki, the god of fresh water, and his followers were especially revered for their role in this theme. The table's serpents rest on five figures that are likely female deities, with only the busts and arms surviving. The fourth side features an extension to slot the table into a wall. Each deity holds an object, now lost, which was probably a water vessel cast separately and attached by a tenon joint. Water played a crucial role in these ceremonies, gushing forth from the vessels as men made sacrifices to appease their gods. In Mesopotamia, spirits carrying vessels that spout streams of water were the followers of Enki/Ea, the god of the Abyss and fresh water. The presence of these figures in this work showcases the significant influence of Mesopotamian mythology on Susa. Here, they are associated with another Chtonian symbol, the snake, often found in Iranian iconography. The sinuous lines of the serpents resemble the winding course of a stream, reflecting the clever use of underground channels to imitate the way streams well up from underground springs in temples. Water was at the heart of Mesopotamian religious practice, poured out as libations or used in purification rites. Under the leadership of Untash-Napirisha, the founder of the Igihalkid Dynasty, the Elamite kingdom flourished. He established a new capital, Al-Untash - modern-day Chogha Zanbil - some 40 kilometers southeast of Susa. However, his successors soon brought large numbers of religious objects back to Susa, including this remarkable table with its impressive drainage system and clever metalworking achievements.