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3d ago

Massive 2,600-Year-Old Assyrian Relief Depicting King and Deities Unearthed in Nineveh

Archaeologists discover unprecedented palace artwork featuring King Ashurbanipal alongside gods Ashur and Ishtar, offering new insights into Assyrian religious and artistic traditions.

Image
The relief and, inset, its 3D reconstruction
Archaeologists excavating the ruins of an ancient Assyrian king’s throne room in Iraq found a massive 26,000-pound carving, a university said.

Overview

  • A 26,455-pound stone relief was uncovered in a buried pit behind the throne room niche of King Ashurbanipal's North Palace in Nineveh, Iraq.
  • The relief, dating to the 7th century BCE, depicts King Ashurbanipal flanked by the deities Ashur and Ishtar, along with mythological figures like a fish genius and a scorpion-man.
  • This discovery marks the first known depiction of major deities in Assyrian palace art, a significant departure from previously unearthed reliefs.
  • Excavations, led by Heidelberg University since 2022, revealed the relief in a location likely buried during the Hellenistic period, eluding 19th-century British excavations.
  • Researchers are currently analyzing the artifact, preparing a peer-reviewed study, and coordinating with Iraqi authorities for its restoration and eventual public display on-site.