Myths and Legends of the World

[angie]

Hello all. I am a new member and stumbled upon this site as I was researching interesting artifacts I have had in my family for many years. My father spent a great deal of time in the middle east in the mid 1950's and brought back many antiques and keepsakes from Iran. Until recently, these items have been in attics or stored away and forgotten.

I am looking for the meaning behind one of two copper plates. An upright lion/horse looking beast is fighting a persian dressed man ( possibly a solider) but looks as though he is in garmets that look like bird feathers on the ends. (?) This is a hand hammered piece with a fair amount of detail. Yet, I would classify it as being "intricately primitive", if that makes sense to anyone... It is a decorative plate and looks like it has been modified to be hung. No idea as to it's age or value. I know it wasn't supposed to be new when my father brought it home. He actually purchased it from a roadside vendor and along with it, purchased what he was told a Russian samolviar that has an eagle and arrow seal on it.

At this point, I'm just curious as to the symbolic nature of what looks to be a mythogical creature on the copper plate... Any ideas?