Bateleur Eagle
by John Swatsley
Title
Bateleur Eagle
Artist
John Swatsley
Medium
Painting - Oil On Cold Press Illustration Board
Description
Cylindrical seals -- the kind used to seal letters with wax -- are an importantsource of information about ancient cultures. The seals, some dating from as many as five thousand years ago, often bear the image of a man astride a bird's back. This bird is thought to be the proud and noble eagle. Thus, the cylindrical wax seals are believed to recall the ancient legend of the eagle and the snake. According to this time-honored Mesopotamian myth, the eagle and the snake made apact promising that they would hunt together and refrain from attacking each other's young. Both parties honored the pact for a time. But once the eagle's young learned to fly, the eagle swooped down and devoured the snake's offspring. Theangered snake sought and received help from the gods to have her revenge. The gods felled an ox and the disgruntled snake hid inside of it, waiting to surprisethe eagle when she came to feed. Her opportunity soon arrived and the surprisedeagle was quickly ensnared by the snake and cast into a pit. These events supposedly occurred during the reign of the childless King Etana. The Sun God promised the king that if he would set the proud eagle free, he would no longer be cursed by childlessness. Once the eagle was free, the bird was so grateful to the king, she took the monarch on her back and the two soared off into the sky, just as depicted on the wax seals.
Please note the "Fine Art America" watermark will not appear on the painting or any print reproduction.
Artwork Copyright © 1983 Wind River Studios Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the Copyright. WRSH Stock Number XB07908
Uploaded
July 20th, 2022
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