Hello

I have this snakes head and wondered if anyone can tell me info and how old it is please.

Hello Folks, I just came across this site a few days ago. I fell in love with the Benin Empire when I saw my first bronze plaque of a warrior. Physics, the way you interpret the bronzes is great. I belong to a living history society and I have been studying the bronzes for a few years now trying to determine how warriors armed and dressed themself. Your observations are great, but I would disagree about them using chain mail. I think mail would have been portrayed as dots or circles, just as the leopards spots are represented as circles. I believe the long studded robes are constructed with beads. If you look at bronze heads, coral beads are represented as cylinders. If you look at the beaded anklets worn by many of the figures, they are also represented as cylinders. These same shapes are repeated in the robes. I have come across references of leopard, crocodile and pangolin hides being used as armor,but never heard of elephant being used. It would make sense though, seeing as how ivory was used in jewelry and ancestral heads. I'm a member of a Medieval History Society, and I portray a Benin warrior.

Hey, nkante, it turns out chain mail was exported from Europe to West Africa, not just to Benin, and also two hauberks are preserved in the palace of Owo to this day: books.google.com/books?id=EUBeZE-63JAC&pg=PA78

(There was also an article written by Robert Smith on these two hauberks preserved in Owo, although I haven't read it: "A Note on Two Shirts of Chain Mail in the Palace at Owo in South western Nigeria" (1971))

There's a photograph of a chain mail fragment  taken from Benin that's kept in the Museum für Völkerkunde Wien (Museum of Ethnology) in Austria on page 305 of the book Benin: Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria by Barbara Plakensteiner and O.J. Eboreime. I haven't scanned and uploaded it like I said I would because I was busy.

By the way, if you're interested in trying to interpret the Benin art, I strongly suggest not just trying to do it yourself or from what you see on the internet. Get the aforementioned book (Benin: Kings and Rituals) from a library or amazon and look through the book, especially the "Catalogue" section forming the second half of the book and read the comments of specialists that have devoted much of their careers to the art.

There are approximately between 2,400 (Felix von Luschan's estimate, based on works that had reached Europe by 1918 ) to 4,000 (Phillip Dark's estimate) pieces of historical (pre-colonial, not modern) Benin art (bronze, ivory, wood, etc.) scattered in museums across the world according to that book, and there is no way one is going to ever see them all. That book I mentioned "only" has about 300 images of different Benin art, in addition to many historical photographs, but it also has the most detailed, accurate and comprehensive analysis of the art that exists so far from what I've seen.


If you can't get Benin: Kings and Rituals, then I suggest getting the book Royal Art of Benin: The Perls Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Kate Ezra. That is the second best book on Benin's art and it has approximately 200 images and a few photographs as well, although the organization and analysis of the art is significantly inferior to that of Benin: Kings and Rituals.

As for the mail vs. beads, I don't think that the central figure in this (the individual wearing the horsetails on his helmet):



is wearing beads in his outfit.


Also this individual (probably a king, (and identified by modern scholars and their informants as Oba Ozolua) depicted in at least two plaques meant to portray the exact same figure):



[img]http://1.bp..com/_u_KW4nuKg9k/SMNHYEE_4uI/AAAAAAAAFyk/_LMfItG5BzE/s320/ben104.jpg[/img]

is wearing an outfit that is depicted in a different manner than the other depictions of people wearing beads.


That said, you may be right about this individual:



wearing beads and not chain mail (maybe just an outfit for a war ceremony).

Anyway, the possible absence of depictions of chain mail in art wouldn't necessarily mean that it wasn't used, since there is already that tradition about Oba Ozolua, and there is already chain mail taken from Benin that is being kept in a museum today. Benin warriors are not shown using cannons on any Benin plaques, but there is extensive evidence that cannons were used (one can check p. 464 to p. 465 of that book I referenced above for images and details) by the Benin army in certain later centuries (18th century, for example). In fact, there are even cultural remnants of the traditional use of cannon among some Esan communities: http://ihuanedo.ning.com/group/healtheducation/forum/topics/traditional-uses-of-owewe-cannon-in-idumebo-and-orhua-of-edo?xg_source=activity

Acapulco1:

Hello

I have this snakes head and wondered if anyone can tell me info and how old it is please.

All of the other snake's heads that I've seen from Benin have more polish and finesse to their appearance than that. I'm not sure that that's a historical (not modern) piece of Benin art just from looking at the picture you posted, although thermoluminescence analysis might say something entirely different . You should go to an art historian specializing in West African bronze/brass art and get it checked out if you're serious, rather than relying on anonymous commentators on the internet.

Why in hell would so called "civilised" people burn such an ancient, beautiful and amazing city.

^^^
Probably either a depiction of Oranmiyan of Ife/Oyo or of the Atta of Igala. Or it could be somebody else entirely.

[img]http://1.bp..com/_u_KW4nuKg9k/SMNHXtkZyUI/AAAAAAAAFyE/YBkUBYkLPsg/s1600/ben101.jpg[/img]

[img]http://3.bp..com/_u_KW4nuKg9k/SMNHYAvdxHI/AAAAAAAAFyc/xeHb7I50dpI/s1600/ben103.jpg[/img]

Figure: Horn Player

Date:
1550–1680
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
H. 24 13/16 x W. 11 9/16 x D. 6 3/4 in. (63 x 29.4 x 17.2 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Sculpture
Credit Line:
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1972
Accession Number:
1978.412.310

Side-blown Trumpet (akohen)

Date:
18th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Ivory
Dimensions:
Length 14-1/2 in.
Classification:
Bone/Ivory-Musical Instrument
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991
Accession Number:
1991.17.109

Side-Blown Trumpet (Oko)

Date:
19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Ivory
Dimensions:
Length 14-1/2 in.
Classification:
Bone/Ivory-Musical Instrument
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991
Accession Number:
1991.17.107

Eroro

Date:
19th century
Geography:
Nigeria
Culture:
Benin
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
H. 17.8 cm (7 in.); Base; 10.3 cm (4 in. square)
Classification:
Idiophone-Struck
Credit Line:
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number:
89.4.2604

Altar Bell: Fish-Legged King

Date:
18th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
H. 5 3/4 x W. 2 5/8 x D. 2 5/8 in. (14.6 x 6.7 x 6.7 cm) Other: W. 2 5/8 x D. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 x 6.7cm)
Classification:
Metal-Musical Instrument
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991
Accession Number:
1991.17.86

Bracelet: Three Heads

Date:
18th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass, copper alloy
Dimensions:
Diameter 4-5/8 in.
Classification:
Metal-Ornament
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991
Accession Number:
1991.17.82

Plaque Fragment: Warrior

Date:
1550–1680
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
H. 16 1/2 x W. 11 15/16 x D. 2 1/2 in. (42 x 30.3 x 6.4 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Sculpture
Credit Line:
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Samuel Rubin, 1962
Accession Number:
1978.412.473



[note: the "Warrior" figure of this plaque, is a past Iyase of Benin]

Plaque: Iyase with Sword and Attendant

Date:
1550–1680
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
H. 15 3/4 x W. 7 1/4 x D. 2 1/2 in. (40 x 18.4 x 6.4 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Sculpture
Credit Line:
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1972
Accession Number:
1978.412.320

Plaque: Warrior

Date:
16th–17th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
H. 17 in. (43.2 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Sculpture
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991
Accession Number:
1991.17.12

[img]http://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/ao/web-large/1978.412.334a,b_a.JPG[/img]

[img]http://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/ao/web-large/1978.412.334a,b_c.JPG[/img]

[img]http://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/ao/web-large/1978.412.334a,b_b.JPG[/img]

Vessel: Ram's Head

Date:
18th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Wood
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 6 9/16 x 4 1/4 x 11 13/16in. (16.7 x 10.8 x 30cm)
Classification:
Wood-Container

[Edit: I see that the images are no longer showing. Here's a link to the source: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/50003356?rpp=20&pg=4&ft=Court+of+Benin&pos=76]

Waist Pendant: Crocodile Head

Date:
16th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass, copper alloy
Dimensions:
Height 7-1/2 in.
Classification:
Metal-Ornament

[Edit: I see that the image is no longer showing so here's a direct link: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/50009189?rpp=20&pg=8&ft=Court+of+Benin&pos=159]

Bracelet: Leopard Heads and Ceremonial Swords

Date:
17th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass, gilt
Dimensions:
Length 5-3/8 in.
Classification:
Metal-Ornament


[Edit: I see that the image is no longer showing so here's another direct link: http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/50009212]

Bracelet: Crocodile and Leopard Heads

Date:
16th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
H. 1 3/4 x Diam. 4 in. (4.4 x 10.2 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Ornament

Box: Oba Ozolua and Unidentified Oba

Date:
19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Wood, sheet metal
Dimensions:
H. 14 3/4 x W. 3 7/8 x D. 2 5/8 in. (37.5 x 9.9 x 6.7 cm)
Classification:
Wood-Container

Altar Tusk

Date:
18th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Ivory
Dimensions:
H. 45 9/16 x W. 2 1/8 x D. 5 1/4 in. (115.8 x 5.4 x 13.3 cm)
Classification:
Bone/Ivory-Sculpture

Altar Tusk

Date:
18th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Ivory
Dimensions:
H. 74 x Diam. 6 1/2 in. (188 x 16.5 cm)
Classification:
Bone/Ivory-Sculpture

Rattle Staff: Hand Holding Mudfish (Ukhurhe)

Date:
16th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
H. 59 1/4 in. (150.5 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Sculpture

Staff for Oba's Representative

Date:
18th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
Height 33-1/2 in.
Classification:
Metal-Sculpture

Rattle Staff: Three Figures (Ukhurhe)

Date:
19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Wood, pigment, cowries, brass bell
Dimensions:
Height 60 in.
Classification:
Wood-Sculpture

Rattle Staff: Oba Akenzua I Standing on an Elephant (Ukhurhe)

Date:
1725–50
Geography:
Nigeria
Culture:
Edo
Medium:
Bronze, copper, iron
Dimensions:
H. 63 1/2 x W. 1 7/8 in. (161.3 x 4.8 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Implement



'In the Benin kingdom of southern Nigeria, rattle staffs, or ukhurhe, are an essential feature of Benin ancestral altars, whether for kings, chiefs, or commoners. These staffs have a hollow rattle chamber near the summit, and they are shaken while uttering prayers at the altars to attract the attention of the ancestors. Ukhurhe may be made of wood or brass, although the brass examples are found only on royal altars.

This staff was created to memorialize Akenzua I, an oba (king) who ruled the Benin kingdom in the early eighteenth century. A rebel chief called Iyase n'Ode challenged Akenzua's reign and civil war ensued. With the help of his military commander, or ezomo, Akenzua ultimately emerged victorious, and the iconography displayed on this ukhurhe refers to this military triumph. In Benin, elephants are a traditional symbol of chiefdom and, according to Benin oral literature, Iyase n'Ode had the ability to change himself into an elephant to vanquish his enemies. Here, Oba Akenzua stands triumphantly on an elephant holding a miniature ukhurhe and a stone axe head, an object associated with warfare and death. Leopards, the preeminent symbol of royalty in Benin art, flank the elephant on either side to suggest the oba's ability to regulate the power of his chiefs. Swords of authority called eben appear in relief along the shaft of the ukhurhe, and toward the bottom a crocodile, representative of the water deity Olokun, indicates the importance of overseas trade to the prosperity of Akenzua's kingdom. At the base of the staff, a second elephant most likely represents the ezomo; his trunk ends in a human hand holding medicinal leaves, a motif in Benin art representing victory and power.'

Staff: Seated Oba

Date:
18th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass, iron
Dimensions:
H. 25 1/4 x W. 3 1/8 x D. 3 1/8 in. (64.1 x 7.9 x 7.9 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Sculpture

Staff Fragment: Seated Oba

Date:
18th–19th century
Geography:
Nigeria, Court of Benin
Culture:
Edo peoples
Medium:
Brass, iron
Dimensions:
H. 13 1/2 x W. 2 3/8 x D. 3 3/8 in. (34.3 x 6.1 x 8.6 cm)
Classification:
Metal-Sculpture