Not surprising, in ancient Mesopotamian spirituality all gods, demons, the dead, other, were all depicted with the characteristics of birds of some kind, not just in art but it was actually a literal belief held for thousands of years.
That’s cuneiform script, (My apologies, i should have made that part more clear.) The star is called Dingir, means sky/heaven or deity. If i remember correctly that particular image was found at the city of Lagash in the temple of Ninurta, so i’m assuming it speaking about him, early archaeologists first thought it only associated with him but later excavations proved it appeared in every temple.
This one was found at Ur, in the temple of the goddess Ninḫursaĝ.
It’s meaning is always the same then and now. Power, divine power manifested on earth and more specifically the supreme authority to which all other things are subject to.
