Department of the Ancient Near East > Galleries > Room 6

Assyrian Sculpture Winged human-headed lions and reliefs from the Northwest Palace of King Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud lead to a statue of the king and to a replica of the huge bronze gates of his son Shalmaneser III from the palace at Balawat, to the original bronze bands of these gates and to a smaller set of Ashurnasirpal gates, also from Balawat. Opposite are stelae and statues from four generations of Assyrian kings: Ashurnasirpal II, Shalmaneser III, Shamshi-Adad V and Adad-Nirari III; the famous Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, the White Obelisk (about 1050 BC?), Ashurnasirpal II's gigantic lion from the entrance to the Ishtar Temple and reliefs from the Temple of Ninurta, and reliefs of Tiglath-pileser III; almost all come from Nimrud.

Mesopotamian Collection

Ashunasirpal II This sculpture presents an image of Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II as a dignified monarch, far removed from the

rough and tumble daily life of a culture at war. His authority is signified by the mace he holds in his left hand. The finest example of this sculpture (877-860 BC) stood in respectful but confident anticipation of divine favor in the shrine of Ishtar at Nimrud. Made from resin, antiqued finish, 10.5H x 3W. 3528 $39

Gilgamesh Hero from Uruk This self-standing relief illustrates Gilgamesh, a historical king of Uruk in Babylonia (modern Iraq), who lived around 2700 BC. His mythical exploits survive for us in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a 3,000-line epic poem, in which its hero undertakes a voyage to the netherworld, the land of No Return, in his attempt to understand his surroundings and find meaning in human existence. The original, now in the Louvre Museum, is almost 14 feet high and came from the throne room of the palace of Sargon, Dur Sharroukin c. 700 BC. Reproduction is made from resin, hand finished green and brown, 16H x 8.75W x 3L, 13 lbs.4342, $111

Sargon Bust of Akkad When the Akkadians overthrew the Sumerian culture, their ruler Sargon was the first of many Mesopotamian rulers to openly call himself king and proclaim his ambition to rule the entire earth. The complex techniques of casting on this sculptured head of the Akkadian Ruler Sargon (c. 2300-2200) have been handled with an assurance that bespeaks true mastery. The original sculpture (Iraq Museum, Bagdad) has one eye damaged in antiquity most probably by another Mesopotamian culture in triumph over Sargon. This sculpture here preserves the bust prior to this ancient damage. Gallery quality, made from cold cast resin, bronze finish, 13H. 4230, $145 $120

Babylonian King Hammurabi Hammurabi was the greatest ruler in the first Babylonian dynasty. 1792-1750 BC. Throughout his long reign he personally supervised navigation, irrigation, agriculture, tax collection, and the erection of many temples and other buildings. This large and magnificant bust is made from bonded resin with a sandstone finish, and measures 16H x 8W x 9L. 4515s, $195

Standard of Ur Sumerian Ceramic Mug from British Museum The Standard of Ur is a mysterious object with one of the earliest representations of a Sumerian army (From Ur, southern Iraq, about 2600-2400 BC). This origianl object was found in one of the largest graves in the Royal Cemetery at Ur, lying in the corner of a chamber above the right shoulder of a man. Its original function is not yet understood. Leonard Woolley, the excavator at Ur, imagined that it was carried on a pole as a standard, hence its common name. Another theory suggests that it formed the soundbox of a musical instrument. The decorative detail on the original piece is adapted her for a handsome desk mug for your favority history lover! Licensed from British Museum. Bone China Mug, dishwasher safe. 6121, $16.95

Persian Lion Rhyton Drinking Vessel Sumptuous golden drinking cup from the Achaemenian period, found in Hamadan. Ornamented with a stylized winged lion. The term rhyton comes from the Greek verb meaning " to run through," and depictions of rhyta on Greek vases show that they were used to aerate wine. Wine poured into the top of the vessel came out of a spout between the animal's legs. Stylistic features suggest that this rhyton was made in northwest Iran in the period from 50 B.C. to A.D. 50. This region had been part of the Achaemenid Persian Empire until Alexander the Great's conquest. After his death in 323 B.C., the Hellenistic Greek Seleucid dynasty, whose kingdom stretched from Turkey to Afghanistan, ruled this area. As Seleucid authority began to weaken In the later 200s B.C., a group of semi-nomadic people called the Parthians, from the steppes of south central Asia, challenged the dynasty and by the mid-100s B.C. had firm control of this area of Iran. This complicated political history left its legacy in the art of the area. Rhyta of this form had a long history in earlier art of Iran, but the floral motifs were drawn from Seleucid art. Made from museum resin a gold finish, black base, 10"H x 8"L x 4"D. 5714, $97

Winged Guardian Bookends

Assyrian Human-Headed Winged Lion This smaller version of the Lamassu is modeled after an original in the collection of the British Museum. The sculpture combines elements of the noblest animals beginning with the head of a man, the body of a lion-ancient symbol of fertility (some versions use a bulls body)--and an eagles wings. Made from compound stone, limestone finish, 10.25H x 9W. 3530 $57

Assyrian Winged Bull Statue This Assyrian Winged Bull Statues feature complementary views of majestic hybrid animals associated with Assyrian leadership. The sculptures combine elements of the noblest animals beginning with the head of a man, the body of a lion or bull (ancient symbol of fertility) and an eagle's wings. 16 foot sculptures like these flanked the entryway to noble king's Assyrian palace. There are dozens of these colossal statues in existance with a very fine collection at the Louvre Museum in Paris. 3531 $57

Assyrian Winged Lion and Bull Statue Set This Assyrian Winged Lion and Bull Statues feature complementary views of majestic hybrid animals associated with Assyrian leadership. The sculptures combine elements of the noblest animals beginning with the head of a man, the body of a lion or bull (ancient symbol of fertility) and an eagle's wings. 16 foot sculptures like these flanked the entryway to noble king's Assyrian palace. There are dozens of these colossal statues in existance with a very fine collection at the Louvre Museum in Paris. 3529, $99

Assyrian Ashurbanipal Horse Horses were used in Assyria both for riding and pulling chariots, primarily for military purposes but also for hunting. Ashurbanipal, improved riding techniques which allowed soldiers to control their own mounts while at the same time using bows and spears. In Assyrian times, both ridden and draught horses were controlled in essentially the same way, that is, by a bridle consisting of headstall, reins and bit. This dynamic reproduction is made after the original from Nineveh, 668-631 BC. Made in resin with a bronze finish. It measures 16"H x 16"L x 5.5"W. 4476, $210

Lion of Babylon The lion of Babylon was the symbol of the city of Babylon of Mesopotamia which was ruled by the Chaldean Kingdom (625-538 B.C.) Made from resin, measures 9H x 12L x 6W. 4536, $70