wall panel; relief

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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
Cultures/periods
Production date: 865BC-860BC
Excavator/field collector
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: North West Palace, Room B Panel 23
Materials
Dimensions: Height: 121.92 centimetres (approx); Width: 91.44 centimetres (approx)
$Inscriptions
Inscription subject
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)

Free entry

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