A seminal stone carving, according to a collective of Heidelberg University archaeologists, portrays Ashurbanipal, the sovereign of the Neo-Assyrian Empire during the period of 699 to 631 BCE, alongside two divine entities and a retinue of other personages.
A fragment of the 2,600-year-old stone relief from the archaeological site of Nineveh. Image credit: Aaron Schmitt.
This artifact, estimated to be 2,600 years old, was exhumed from the archaeological expanse of Nineveh, situated within the contemporary metropolis of Mosul in northern Iraq.
Nineveh once served as the regal seat and most expansive urban center of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, and for approximately fifty years, it held the distinction of being the world’s most populous city.
“The venerable city of Nineveh is regarded as one of the preeminent urban settlements of North Mesopotamia, and under the reign of King Sennacherib, it attained the status of the Assyrian Empire’s capital in the 8th century BCE,” commented Professor Aaron Schmitt of Heidelberg University, alongside his research collaborators.
This antique relief, unearthed within the opulent throne room of King Ashurbanipal’s Northern Palace, commands attention not only due to its considerable dimensions but also because of the narrative scenes it illustrates.
It was meticulously sculpted onto a colossal stone slab measuring 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length and 3 meters (10 feet) in height, possessing an approximate mass of 12 tons.
A three-dimensional representation of the stone relief from the Nineveh archaeological zone: sections are delineated in dark gray, while the light gray segments signify a reconstruction informed by discovered elements; King Ashurbanipal is centrally positioned, flanked by the deity Ashur on the left and Ishtar, the tutelary goddess of Nineveh, on the right; both divine figures are accompanied by a pisciform entity and an attendant with upraised arms. Image credit: Michael Rummel.
“Among the extensive collection of relief imagery discovered in Assyrian palaces, there are virtually no representations of major deities,” Professor Schmitt observed.
“The focal point of the recently unearthed relief is King Ashurbanipal, acknowledged as the final significant monarch of the Assyrian Empire.”
“He is flanked by two principal deities: the gods Ashur and Ishtar, who is the patron goddess of Nineveh.”
“Each is accompanied by a fish-like spirit, which bestows salvation and vitality upon the divine beings and the monarch, alongside a supporting figure with arms extended skyward, presumed to be a scorpion-man, subject to future restoration.”
“These depicted elements strongly suggest that a monumental winged solar emblem was originally positioned directly above the relief.”
The archaeological team now intends to conduct an in-depth analysis of the iconography and disseminate their findings through a scholarly publication.
“The relief was initially situated within a recess directly opposite the primary entrance to the throne chamber, thereby occupying the most significant location within the palatial complex,” stated Professor Schmitt.
“The fragments of this relief were subsequently located by us within a pit filled with soil, situated behind this recess.”
“Its concealment likely occurred during the Hellenistic era, specifically within the 3rd or 2nd century BCE.”
“The fact that these fragments were interred is undoubtedly a contributing factor to why their discovery eluded British archaeologists over a century ago.”
