About this Piece
The Norris Chamber doors feature Middle-Eastern iconography, but the overall theme is the tree of life. A man and a woman stand on either side of the tree facing inward. The man holds a spade while the female holds a jar. Above the tree is a winged sun disk, a symbol common in ancient Middle-Eastern mythology.
The man is likely the Babylonian god, Marduk, who is symbolized by the spade. The female is likely his wife, Sarpanatu (sometimes called Nanaya), the fertility goddess.
The Norris Chamber houses Nebraska’s Unicameral.
About Hildreth Meière
Hildreth Meière (me-AIR) was one of the greatest American muralists of the 20th century. She was a pioneer in her field and created a more modern approach to murals that differed from the academic traditions at the time. She blended several classic influences, including classic Greek vase painting, Byzantine Mosaics, and Native American beadwork into a style known as Art Deco.
Up until her death in 1961 she acknowledged the Nebraska State Capitol as her crowning achievement.
