Investiture of Zimri-Lim

The Investiture of Zimrilim
Material	Mural painting on white plaster
Size	4.25 square metres (45.7 sq ft)
Height	1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in)
Width	2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in)
Created	c. 18th-century BC
Period/culture	Amorite
Discovered	1935-1936
Place	Royal palace of Mari, Syria
Present location	Musée du Louvre, Paris
Identification	AO 19826

The Investiture of Zimrilim is a large colorful mural discovered at the Royal palace of the ancient city-state of Mari in eastern Syria. The fresco depicts Zimrilim, king of Mari, receiving the symbols of rule (a ring and a staff) from the goddess Ishtar. The painting was discovered in-situ on its original wall located opposite the great doorway to the podium room leading to the throne room of the palace. It was discovered by French archaeologist André Parrot during excavations at Mari in 1935-1936. It is now displayed at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France.

Overview

Three rectangular parts make up the composition of the painting. The scene depicted in the large rectangular frame is strictly symmetrical which facilitates the reconstruction of the damaged part to the left. The scene depicts a garden of Palms and another mythical tree with a red trunk and blue leafs and two Lama goddesses raising their hands in prayer. Three mythic animals, a lion, a sphynx and a bull with a human head, are depicted each on a ground line. The animals are symmetrically placed on each side and are turned towards the central scene in the painting. Flying doves which symbolism the pacific aspects of Ishtar counterbalance the lion which symbolizes her aggression.