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Massive Assyrian Relief Depicting King and Gods Unearthed in Nineveh

Archaeologists uncover a unique 26,000-pound stone carving from King Ashurbanipal's throne room, offering rare insights into Assyrian religious art and royal iconography.

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 Heidelberg University team has discovered a 26,000-pound stone relief in the North Palace of King Ashurbanipal in Nineveh, Iraq, during ongoing excavations that began in 2022.
  • The relief, dating to the 7th century BCE, depicts King Ashurbanipal flanked by the supreme deities Ashur and Ishtar, along with mythological figures such as a fish genius and a scorpion-man.
  • Fragments of the relief were found buried in an earth-filled pit behind a niche near the throne room's main entrance, likely buried during the Hellenistic period.
  • This find is exceptional as no other known Assyrian palace reliefs feature depictions of major deities, and researchers believe a winged sun disk originally topped the carving.
  • Archaeologists are conducting detailed analyses, preparing a peer-reviewed study, and coordinating with Iraqi authorities to reinstall the relief in its original location for public display.