Text, Carved door-sill

Geometrically derived solar discs pattern from Assyrian decoration. Fine surroundings. As the Assyrian empire grew, the capital city was moved by successive kings from Nimrud to Khorsabad and then to Nineveh. with increasingly grand palaces in each. A door sill from the entrance to King Ashurbanipal's (ruled 668 - about 630 BC) throne room provides a glimpse of its sumptuous decoration. The intricate carving replicates the rich carpets that were indispensable to palace decoration, but are now lost. Such copies in stone give us some idea of their quality and decoration. Here a border of rosettes frames flowers created by interlocking circles while, around the edge, lotus buds and blossoms represent the carpet's fringing. Carved door-sill. North Palace, Nineveh, Iraq. 645-640 BC. Limestone. 1856,0909.44