Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mike_c

(37,114 posts)
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 02:02 PM Apr 24

Queen of the Night

A Mesopotamian terracotta relief of disputed provenance at the British Museum in London. Previously known as the Burney relief (after an antiquities dealer), it was purchased for $2.03 million and renamed the Queen of the Night.

Photography in the British Museum was difficult due to massive crowds and reflections on glass cabinets. Lights were low and I could only shoot hand-held.

36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Queen of the Night (Original Post) mike_c Apr 24 OP
I love her feet! Ocelot II Apr 24 #1
me too! mike_c Apr 24 #2
Symbols of her chthonic powers. littlemissmartypants Apr 24 #12
or her dancing abilities? orleans Apr 24 #27
If she's dancing in hell. littlemissmartypants Apr 24 #28
Thanks for the new word. yonder Apr 24 #31
Fantastic. Thx. yorkster Apr 24 #3
glad you like it! mike_c Apr 24 #8
Is that an Instagram model? johnnyplankton Apr 24 #4
I'm not sure what an Instagram model is mike_c Apr 24 #9
Looks like Lilith Blue Full Moon Apr 24 #5
it appears the modern consensus... mike_c Apr 24 #10
Not too surprising since myths do cross cultures Blue Full Moon Apr 24 #26
They get recycled, thus Christianity. paleotn Apr 24 #29
Plus a mushroom trip. Lol Blue Full Moon Apr 24 #35
She looks like . . . AverageOldGuy Apr 24 #6
dude.... mike_c Apr 24 #14
She ripped out my heart and stomped on it . . . AverageOldGuy Apr 24 #32
Wow, you dated a girl with feet like that ??? eppur_se_muova Apr 24 #33
Outstanding! H2O Man Apr 24 #7
thanks! mike_c Apr 24 #15
Pic is excellent Picaro Apr 24 #11
thanks! mike_c Apr 24 #16
You kind of have to turn off any ethical judgement Picaro Apr 24 #22
absolutely mike_c Apr 24 #24
Well done! ❤️ littlemissmartypants Apr 24 #13
thank you! mike_c Apr 24 #18
Very nice. Great job! KPN Apr 24 #17
thanks! mike_c Apr 24 #20
Oh wow! "The Magic Flute" is my favorite opera ... fierywoman Apr 24 #19
thank you! mike_c Apr 24 #21
A truly wonderful photo. democrank Apr 24 #23
thank you, democrank! mike_c Apr 24 #25
Wow! Joinfortmill Apr 24 #30
Good job mike_c, under less than ideal conditions. George McGovern Apr 24 #34
thanks George! mike_c Apr 25 #36

mike_c

(37,114 posts)
10. it appears the modern consensus...
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 03:52 PM
Apr 24

...is that the figure represents either Ereshkigal or Inanna, both goddesses in the Mesopotamian pantheon.

AverageOldGuy

(4,080 posts)
32. She ripped out my heart and stomped on it . . .
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 05:06 PM
Apr 24

. . . then this drop-dead gorgeous girl in my Shakespeare class -- who I thought would never give me a second look -- took pity on me, patched me up and this July 30 we will have been married for 60 years.

Picaro

(2,415 posts)
11. Pic is excellent
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 03:53 PM
Apr 24

Wouldn’t have known that you had a struggle getting a good shot.

Well, done. Will be touring the British Museum next week. I’ ll be looking for this.

Well done and thanks for posting.

mike_c

(37,114 posts)
16. thanks!
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 04:01 PM
Apr 24

My wife did better with her phone in most cases. Have a great time when you go! It's a remarkable museum, even if it is likely the world's greatest monument to cultural theft.

Picaro

(2,415 posts)
22. You kind of have to turn off any ethical judgement
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 04:09 PM
Apr 24

Been there a number of years ago. The Elgin marbles are just one representation of British thievery. This piece is another.

Still want to see it.

mike_c

(37,114 posts)
24. absolutely
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 04:14 PM
Apr 24

The Elgin marbles, Rosetta Stone, and Assyrian gates are all displayed near one another on the first level. Standing in front of them was really special.

mike_c

(37,114 posts)
20. thanks!
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 04:03 PM
Apr 24

Pretty much every artifact in that museum is astounding in one way or another.

fierywoman

(8,621 posts)
19. Oh wow! "The Magic Flute" is my favorite opera ...
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 04:02 PM
Apr 24

... I'm fascinated by this image. Thank you and : great job with the difficulty photographing it.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Photography»Queen of the Night