Hatra: Marble statue of Uthal, King of Hatra, 2nd century BC
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Ghirshman, Roman
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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"Here rigid frontality is combined with an extremely detailed rendering of the king's costume. The general effect is of an inert mass, which the gesture of adoration completely fails to bring to life. This formalism is characteristic of all Neo-Iranian culture, one of whose chief centres was situated in Mesopotamia. But, though the Neo-Iranian artists were always prepared to draw on Mesopotamian models - the king's head is evidence of this - the rise to power of the Parthians did much to further the renascence of Oriental traditions which now was taking place." Finds much more life in the Shami Bronze statue.
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Archives Series
Date created
1962
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This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.
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