In the Louvre Museum of Paris, a beautiful and artistic work of the ancient civilization of Elam is kept. This work is not only a sign of the art of the skilled artists of ancient Elam (more than 3000 years ago) but it also shows the innovative excellence of the ancient Ilamite in using their smelting precious metals. This artifact is known as the lapis lazuli cuckoo.
The lapis lazuli dove was made in the middle Ilamite period and dates back to 1300 BC. This beautiful bird is configured in such a way that golden caps can be seen on its body. The size of the Ilamite dove is more than 4 cm high and a little more than 11 cm long. It is A statue that has emerged from elegance and artistry and shows the creative power of the inhabitants of the Iranian plateau and the creation of unique handicrafts in distant millennia.
The Ilamites in the southwest of the Iranian plateau were builders of a progressive civilization formed in 3200 BC. They lived on until the establishment of the Achaemenid empire. After that, they continued to live in Susa and left their artistic masters and efficient teachers at the disposal of Achaemenid princes. The Ilamites called their territory the “Land of the Gods” or “Elamatu” (high land). They had extensive trade links with neighboring and distant civilizations. The history of Elam is divided into several periods: Neo-Ilamite , Ancient Elam, Middle Elam, and New Elam. As mentioned, the lapis lazuli dove statue in the Louvre Museum in Paris was made in the Middle Elam period (around 1500-1100 BC).
The Ilamite bird statue is made of lapis lazuli stone. It is unclear what perception the ancient Ilamites had of the cuckoo. Creating such a statue in the shape of a cuckoo, with its golden arrays, proves that they considered the cuckoo to be a good bird. in Persian literature of the middle history of Iran, because of its sad tone of singing the cuckoo has gone into the beliefs of the people on those times. Sometimes they thought it to be a faithful and loving bird and sometimes not a faithful bird. In some ancient legends it is said that the cuckoo helped the Sassanid king, Shapour, to open the gates of the city he had besieged! There is no indication of the beliefs of the Ilamites about this bird, except for this beautiful statue. But it is evident that if they thought this bird to be ominous, they would not have created such a piece or decorate it with golden caps. In the excavations of the city of Susa, archaeologists have obtained more than two thousand samples of dishes with animal patterns, the meaning of which is all mysterious and symbolic. Mountain goats, snakes, and hunting dogs are among the most frequent animal characters found in the works of the Elam civilization. It has been said that more than 90% of the seals found in the Elam civilization have animal motifs. They were the symbol of the unknown world of the Ilamites. The Ilamites were very religious and considered symbols essential to their lives. They believed in their role in daily life.
