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wall panel
;
relief
Object Type
wall panel
relief
Museum number
1850,1228.24-26
Description
King Ashurnasirpal appears twice, dressed in ritual robes and holding the mace symbolising authority. In front of him there is a Sacred Tree, possibly symbolising life, and he makes a gesture of worship to a god in a winged disc. The god, who may be the sun god Shamash, has a ring in one hand; this is an ancient Mesopotamian symbol of god-given kingship. There are protective spirits on either side behind the king. This symmetrical scene, heavy with symbolism, was placed behind the royal throne. There was another opposite the main door of the throne room, and similar scenes occupied prominent positions in other Assyrian palaces; they were also embroidered on the royal clothes.
Authority
Ruler:
Ashurnasirpal II
Cultures/periods
Neo-Assyrian
Production date
865BC-860BC
Excavator/field collector
Excavated by:
Sir Austen Henry Layard
Findspot
Excavated/Findspot:
North West Palace
, Room B Panel 23
Materials
gypsum
Dimensions
Height:
121.92 centimetres
(approx)
Width:
91.44 centimetres
(approx)
$Inscriptions
Inscription subject
royal
Curator's comments
There was another of these opposite the main door of throneroom and in other palaces and the scene would have been represented on royal clothes. In set with 1849,0502.15 In set with 1849,1222.4-5
Moulded as a commercially available cast (listed in the BM Facsimile Service, Catalogue of Replicas)
Bibliographic references
Paley S M 1976a / King of the World: Ashur-nasir-pal II of Assyria 883-859 B.C.
(p.101, pl.17a)
Layard A H 1849a / The monuments of Nineveh, from drawings made on the spot
(pl.25)
Budge 1914 / Assyrian Sculptures in the British Museum, Reign of Ashur-nasir-pal, 885-890 B.C
(pl. XI & LIII.4 & LIII.7)
Guide 1922 / Guide to the Babylonian and Assyrian Antiquities in the British Museum
(pl.14)
Gadd 1936b / The Stones of Assyria: the surviving remains of Assyrian sculpture, their recovery, and their original positions
(p.131)
Roaf M 1990a / Cultural atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East
(p.163)
(?)
Location
On display
(G7)
Subjects
deity
king/queen
arms/armour
spirit
tree/bush
flower
Associated names
Representation of:
Ashurnasirpal II
Representation of:
Ashur
(?)
Representation of:
Shamash
(?)
Acquisition date
1850
Acquisition notes
Register entry transcribed from General Register of Antiquities in MLA.
Department
Middle East
Registration number
1850,1228.24-26
Additional IDs
Miscellaneous number:
NG.2
(ex Nimrud Gallery)