Cretan bronze works. Nothing to do with Urartu?

This article deals with a peculiar type of Cretan objects characterized by precise Eastern connections: the bronze shields, in particular the ones carrying a protruding animal head in the centre, the diameter varying from 30 to 60 cm. The discoveries at the site of ayanis, near Van, of a bronze lion-shield, rose the opportunity to advance new remarks and suggestions on the Cretan items too. in the meantime, some more general considerations are made on the artistic reciprocal influences between east and West, with particular reference to the Urartian belts. The opportunity provided by the ayanis specimen to study the technique of production of the lion-shield, was fundamental to definitively rule out a common matrix for both areas (Crete and Urartu). Without any doubt, not the objects, but the general idea was travelling between East and West, maybe carrying analogue meaning.