Ancient Akkadian 22k solid GOLD medallion; Ishtar / Inanna as Winged Lion!

Description

Ancient Akkadian 22k solid GOLD medallion; Ishtar / Inanna as Winged Lion!
This is truly a stunning piece. Rich high karat gold, with a beautiful patina! Approximately 6.1 grams and 40mm x 45mm. This is a large and substantial piece. The gold is entirely hand worked using wooden punches to create the robust bass relief. The motif of a winged lion is specific to Akkadian, Babylonian, and earlier Sumerian cultures; though it was adopted by later cultures such as the Seljuk Turks. The winged lion represents the goddess Ishtar / Inanna; while the anthropomorphic sun could represent her twin brother Utu. This is a genuine ancient piece, made by hand from unrefined natural gold. It has tool marks from excavation, and areas of thick orange patina from the oxidized high karat gold. The workmanship is beautiful, though clearly not worked using modern tools or machinery. I have polished the medallion lightly leaving traces of the patina in the ridges while buffing the high points of the design. There is a small crack through the piece at the wing section; and wear and scratches commensurate with advanced age. This medallion could date from 2300 - 2100 BCE, or possibly it is a Seljuk era revival of the design from the 11th to 13th centuries CE.  The origin is near modern day Iraq or Iran and comes from a longstanding American collection. The piece is sturdy and usable to wear every day!