Room 6
Assyrian sculpture and Balawat Gates
Visiting the gallery
Opening times
Daily: 10.00–17.00 (Fridays: 20.30)
See full opening hours
Advance booking advised
Gallery audio guides
Listen on the Audio app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Large stone sculptures and reliefs were a striking feature of the palaces and temples of ancient Assyria (modern northern Iraq).
Visit Rooms 6a and 6b to see two colossal winged human-headed lions that flanked an entrance to the royal palace of King Ashurnasirpal II (883–859 BC) at Nimrud. Plus, see a gigantic standing lion that stood at the entrance to the nearby Temple of Ishtar, the goddess of war.
These sculptures are displayed alongside fragments and replicas of the huge bronze gates of Shalmaneser III (858–824 BC) from Balawat.
A Black Obelisk also on display shows the same king receiving tribute from Israel and is displayed with obelisks and stelae (vertical inscribed stone slabs) from four generations of Assyrian kings.
Take a virtual tour
Marvel at the huge winged beasts that guarded the palaces of Assyria.
Accessibility
- Some objects in this collection feature on the British Sign Language multimedia guide. This resource is temporarily unavailable. You can access a selection of BSL films on your own device.
- Some objects in this collection feature on the audio description guide, available on Soundcloud.
- Seating is available.
- Step-free access available.
- View sensory map.
Visit Accessibility at the Museum for more information.
