The rooms and courtyards of the Neo-Assyrian Southwest Palace of King Sennacherib (704-681 BC) at Nineveh (in modern northern Iraq) were decorated with a series of detailed carved stone panels. Many of them are on display in Room 9.
The panels depict a variety of scenes, including the transport of huge sculptures of human-headed winged bulls (lamassu) that weigh up to 30 tons and were intended for the main entrances to the palace.
These illustrations provide an insight into ancient quarrying and transport techniques, as well as Sennacherib’s keen interest in his building projects. Other panels on display depict the king’s military campaigns.
Assyria: Lion Hunts (Room 10a)
645 – 635 BC
In ancient Assyria, lion-hunting was considered the sport of kings, symbolic of the ruling monarch’s duty to protect and fight for his people. The sculpted reliefs in Room 10a illustrate the sporting exploits of the last great Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (668-631 BC) and were created for his palace at Nineveh (in modern-day northern Iraq).
The hunt scenes, full of tension and realism, rank among the finest achievements of Assyrian Art. They depict the release of the lions, the ensuing chase and subsequent killing.
Assyria: Siege of Lachish (Room 10b)
710 –700 – 692 BC
Lachish was one of the chief cities of the kingdom of Judah in the southern Levant and in 701 BC it was captured by the Assyrian King Sennacherib (704-681 BC). The siege followed the refusal of Lachish to pay tribute to the Assyrian Empire (based in modern northern Iraq) and is mentioned in the Bible.
Many of the relief sculptures on display in Room 10b depict the capture of the city, alongside a selection of items and weaponry used in the siege. A “prism” inscribed with an Assyrian account of the campaign is also on show.
Assyria: Khorsabad (Room 10c)
710 – 705 BC
The city and palace at Khorsabad (in modern northern Iraq), was built for the Assyrian King Sargon II (721-705 BC). The palace entrances were originally dominated by pairs of colossal human-headed winged bulls, which were intended as guardians, accompanied by protective spirits with magical powers.
Two of these impressive statues now stand in Room 10c, along with carvings depicting the king and crown prince, royal courtiers and hunting scenes. Inscriptions on display in the gallery come from a similar winged bull from the palace of Sennacherib (704-681 BC) at nearby Nineveh and were badly burnt when the city was destroyed in 612 BC.
citycell Assyria: Nineveh Palace Panels - British Museum - June 2016 | |
| Likes | Dislikes |
| 19 views views | 288 followers |
| Travel & Events | Upload TimePublished on 17 Aug 2016 |
Related keywords
london tipton,corky romano,london tube map,london hotels,city inn khulna,cork board design,london ontario,london to paris train,city hospital,city bank career,citibank branch,cork or stopper,london boy,citibank credit card,london pass,corkcicle,cork uses in laboratory,cork board sizes,cork borer,london house chicago,city bank amex card,london weather,city hunter,london has fallen cast,london map,corki build,city college dhaka,london bridge,corkcicle ph,cork meaning,city college,london broil marinade,city of lies,corki,city group,cork ireland,london eye,city touch,london broil,corkage,london fog,city of god,city university bangladesh,corki runes,city bank bd,city bank job circular,cork board price,corkage fee,cork stopper,city university,london house,london time,london boy lyrics,city corporation,london has fallen,cork board,corkage meaning,corkscrew,citibank,
