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Traditions/Classic of Mountains and Seas/Gu
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Gu

鼓(Classical Chinese)
Gu
Imperial Encyclopaedia - Spirits and the Supernatural - pic13 - 鼓神圖Archive

Mythological Narrative

The 'Classic of the Western Mountains' says of Mount Zhong: 'its son is called Gu, human-faced and dragon-bodied.' This Gu conspired with the god Qinpi to murder the deity Baojiang (Zujiang in some recensions) on the southern slopes of Kunlun. The High God, enraged, had both killers executed east of Mount Zhong, at a place called Yao Cliff.

Execution did not end them; each rose again as a bird. Qinpi became a great osprey 'like an eagle, black-marked and white-headed, red-beaked and tiger-clawed', whose cry is like a morning swan and whose appearance brings great war. Gu became the Jun bird, 'like a kite, red-footed and straight-beaked, yellow-marked and white-headed', its voice like a swan; whatever town it alights on will suffer great drought. Murderers in life, they persist as calamities — war and drought — after death.

This is one of the most complete narrative episodes in the entire Shanhaijing, with murder, divine punishment, and metamorphosis in three acts. Mythographers habitually read it beside Xingtian, who danced with axe and shield after losing his head, and Gun, whose corpse lay three years without rotting: the gods slain by the High God refuse, in one form or another, to be annihilated.

Global Antiquity Records

Classical Art & Museum Artifacts

44 Archival Artifacts Documented

High-resolution museum artifacts, classical sculptures, pottery reliefs, and bronze idols preserving authentic historical representations of Gu.

Bronze figure of Osiris with a tall crown and arms crossed over the torso. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
Egyptian, Late Period664–332 BCE

Statuette of Osiris

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Copper-alloy foundation figure of a man holding a basket above his head. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Neo-Sumerianca. 2112–2095 BCE

Foundation figure of Ur-Namma holding a basket

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Ibeji Twin Figure
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Yoruba peoples, Nigeria19th–20th century

Ibeji Twin Figure

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Textile hanging showing the combat of Rama and Ravana with armies in battle. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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India, Coromandel Coastlate 18th century

The Combat of Rama and Ravana

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Cupreous metal statuette of the god Ptah in mummiform pose. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Ptah

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Cupreous metal statuette of the god Amun wearing a tall plumed crown. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Amun

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Gold statuette of the god Amun standing in a striding pose. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Third Intermediate Periodca. 945–721 BCE

Statuette of Amun

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Carved stone healing stela (the Metternich Stela) showing Horus the Child flanked by protective deities including Bes. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period360–343 BCE

Magical Stela with Horus the Child

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Painted papyrus fragment showing deities including Shu riding in a solar boat. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period or later664 BCE or later

Papyrus fragment with a painting of Khepri, Shu, Tefnut, Thoth, and Isis in a solar boat

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Terracotta column-krater with a painted scene including Zeus. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Greek, Atticca. 460 BCE

Terracotta column-krater (vase for mixing wine and water)

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Terracotta neck-amphora with a painted scene of Zeus. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Greek, Atticca. 460–450 BCE

Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)

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Fragments of a marble sarcophagus with a relief frieze including a figure of Hera. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Roman3rd quarter of 3rd century CE

Marble sarcophagus with the contest between the Muses and the Sirens

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Bronze statuette of the god Apollo. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Greekca. 500 BCE

Bronze statuette of Apollo

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Bronze statuette of the goddess Artemis. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Greek3rd–1st century BCE

Bronze statuette of Artemis

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Marble relief fragments from the Great Eleusinian Relief showing Demeter and Persephone. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Romanca. 27 BCE–14 CE

Ten marble fragments of the Great Eleusinian Relief

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Bronze statuette of the god Neptune. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Romanearly 1st century CE

Bronze statuette of Neptune

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Bronze plaquette depicting Mars with shield and sword, by François Briot. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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European Sculpture and Decorative Artsca. 1610

Mars

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Bronze statuette of Isis nursing the infant Horus. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian664–31 BCE

Bronze statuette of Isis with infant Horus

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Bronze statuette of Isis nursing the infant Horus. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Third Intermediate Period–Late Periodca. 1080–343 BCE

Isis nursing Horus

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Cupreous metal statuette of the jackal-headed god Anubis. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Anubis

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Limestone statue of Anubis as a recumbent black jackal. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, End of Late Period–Ptolemaic Period343–30 BCE

Statue of Anubis as a recumbent canid

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Faience statuette of the ibis-headed god Thoth striding forward. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Ptolemaic Period332–30 BCE

Striding Thoth

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Bronze figure of the cat goddess Bastet with inlaid decoration. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Bastet

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Cupreous metal statuette of the cat goddess Bastet. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Bastet

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Glazed steatite scarab inscribed with a blessing formula naming the god Re. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Middle Kingdomca. 1850–1640 B.C.

Scarab Inscribed with a Blessing Related to Re

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Cupreous metal statuette of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Lion-Headed Goddess

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Cupreous metal statuette of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Lion-headed goddess

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Bronze menat counterpoise cast with figures of the goddess Hathor. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Egyptian, New Kingdomca. 1386–1347 BCE

Menat counterpoise with figures of Hathor as a woman and a cow

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Bronze statuette of the mummiform god Osiris holding the crook and flail. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
Egyptian664–31 BCE

Bronze statuette of Osiris

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Gilt copper-alloy figure of the god Vishnu, dated 1105 CE. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)dated August 12, 1105

Vishnu

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Bronze figurine of the elephant-headed god Ganesha. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
India (South India)17th–18th century

Ganesha

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Bronze figure of the goddess Durga triumphing over the demon Mahishasura. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Indiaca. 1400

Durga Mahishasura

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Copper-alloy figure of the monkey god Hanuman in conversation. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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India (Tamil Nadu)11th century

Hanuman Conversing

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Wood sculpture of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), dated 1282. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Chinadated 1282

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Gilt bronze figure of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin). Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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ChinaFive Dynasties (907–960)

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Basalt figure of the water goddess Chalchiuhtlicue. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
Mexica (Aztec)1325–1521 CE

Chalchiuhtlicue

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Basalt head of the water goddess Chalchiuhtlicue. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Mexica (Aztec)15th–early 16th century

Head of a Water Deity (Chalchiuhtlicue)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Carved obsidian head from a figure of Xochipilli. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Mexica (Aztec)15th–early 16th century

Head from a figure, Xochipilli-Macuilxochitl

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Cuneiform clay tablet inscribed with a hymn to the god Marduk. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Babylonian (?)1st millennium BCE

Cuneiform tablet: hymn to Marduk

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Marble grave stele with a sphinx-form finial. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
Greek, Atticca. 530 BCE

Marble stele (grave marker) with a youth and little girl, and a capital and finial in the form of a sphinx

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Faience sphinx associated with King Amenhotep III. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
Egyptian, New Kingdomca. 1386–1347 BCE

Sphinx of Amenhotep III, possibly from a Model of a Temple

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Terracotta skyphos with a painted scene of Theseus and the Minotaur. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
Greek, Atticca. 470–460 BCE

Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Red sandstone figure of a standing Nagaraja, a serpent king. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
India (Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh)ca. mid- 5th century

Standing Nagaraja (Serpent King)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Illustrated handscroll from the Tale of the Fox (Kitsune no soshi). Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Inspect Specimen
Japan1669

Tale of the Fox (Kitsune no sōshi)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→
Scholarly Symposium & Field Notes

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Cross-Tradition Discovery

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