Late 18th-early 19th century (Kingdom of Benin) Miscellaneous
Works of Art Fund - Benin (BEN-een) kingdom was ruled by kings
called obas (OH-ba) who were aided by town chiefs called iyases
(EE-yah-she) and by palace chiefs called ezomos (EE-zoe-mo). - A
popular Benin story honoring Ezomo Ehenua (ee-HEE-noo-a)
celebrates his defeat of the evil Iyase n'Ode (EE-yah-she-n-oh-
day). images carved on elephant tusks reinforce the power of
important people and remind viewers of Benin's history.