READING HALL

THE DOORS OF WISDOM

THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE- TABLE OF CONTENTS

Colossal statue of a winged lion from the North-West Palace of Ashurnasirpal II

This gypsum wall panel came from the North-West Palace of Ashurnasirpal II (883 - 859 BCE) at Nimrud. The so-called "Standard Inscription" of Ashurnasirpal II runs horizontally across the lower part. The king wears a diadem and holds a bucket in his left hand; the right arm is raised in salutation or prayer gesture. He also wears a below-knee length kilt and a fringed robe. The depicted man may also represent a crown prince. From the North-West Palace at Nimrud, in modern-day Ninawa Governorate, Iraq. Neo-Assyrian period reign of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE). On display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq.

This gypsum wall relief depicts a typical Assyrian lion-hunting scene. King Ashurnasirpal II stands in his royal chariot and shoots at a leaping wounded lion. Two royal attendants, behind the wounded lion, holding their shields and daggers, are ready to intervene at any moment. A dead or dying lion appears beneath the chariot's horses. Neo-Assyrian Period, reign of Ashurnasirpal II, 865-860 BCE. Panel 19 of Room B (Throne Room) at the NorthWest Palace, Nimrud (Kalhu), Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London) ANCIENT HISTORY ENCYCLOPEDIA

Sculpted reliefs depicting Ashurbanipal, the last great Assyrian king, hunting lions, gypsum hall relief from the North Palace of Nineveh (Irak), c. 645-635 BC, British Museum