Colossal statue of a winged lion from the North-West Palace of
Ashurnasirpal II (Room B)
Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern Iraq
Neo-Assyrian, about 883-859 BC
Protection for the royal palace from the forces of chaos
This is one of a pair of guardian figures that flanked one of
the entrances into the throne room of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859
BC). Stone mythological guardians, sculpted in relief or in the
round, were often placed at gateways to ancient Mesopotamian
palaces, to protect them from demonic forces. They were known to
the Assyrians as lamassu. This winged lion has five legs
so that when viewed from the front it is standing firm, and when
viewed from the side it appears to be striding forward against any
evil. It wears ropes like other protective spirits. Between the
legs is inscribed the 'Standard Inscription' of Ashurnasirpal which
is repeated over many of his reliefs. It records the king's titles,
ancestry and achievements.
This colossal figure was excavated by Austen Henry Layard who
worked in Assyria between 1845 and 1851. He suggested that these
composite creatures embodied the strength of the lion, the
swiftness of birds indicated by the wings, and the intelligence of
the human head. The helmet with horns indicates the creature's
divinity.
J.E. Reade, Assyrian sculpture-1 (London, The British Museum Press, 1998)