Plaque with Banquet Scenes

Plaque with Banquet Scenes

This square plaque is divided into three horizontal sections, each of which contains a scene from a banquet. In the upper section, a seated man and woman are shown taking part in a feast. They are attended by servants. In the middle section, more servants are shown in the process of preparing for the meal. In the lower section, musicians and dancers are shown providing entertainment. Plaques like this one formed part of door-locking systems for important buildings. Each plaque was embedded in a doorjamb, and a peg, inserted into the central hole, was used to hold a hook or cord that secured the door.

Collected by

Henri Frankfort, Field Director of the Iraq Expedition
Excavated by The Oriental Institute 1933-1934