20th-16th century BC. A terracotta plaque with moulded image of Humbaba (or Huwawa), the lion-faced demon, standing with his hands clasped to his midriff, legs splayed; held between membrane in a modern frame. See Aruz, J., Art of the First Cities. The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Ind, New York, 2003, fig.112, p.482, for an image of the death of Huwawa. 71 grams, 10.2cm (425 grams total, 18.3 x 18cm including case) (4 (7 x 7)"). Family collection since the 1970s. Property of a London gentleman. Property of a UK collector. Humbaba is possibly a form of the Elamite god Humban. He appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh as a guardian of the cedar forests sacred to the god Enlil and is described as a giant protected by seven layers of terrifying radiance. He was eventually killed by Gilgamesh, and hispanion Enkidu, by having his head cut off. In art, Humbaba is typically portrayed as a human-bodied figure with lion's claws for hands, a monstro face, long hair and whiskers. Babylonian models of the face of Humbaba were connected with divination and some are inscribed with omens, but they have also been found placed high up on walls acting as magical charms; the face of Humbaba can be seen carved in stone and set into the wall to one side of the entrance of the temple at Tell al-Rimah, Iraq. [No Reserve]