Alabaster relief, Ashurnasirpal II - Favourite of the gods

Germany, Museum Island, Berlin, Pergamon Museum

Ashurnasirpal II - Favourite of the gods

Alabaster

Kalhu/Nimrud (Iraq), 9th century BC

Purchase 1855, VA 950

Unlike the other alabaster reliefs on display here, the two large wall slabs to the left and right of the doorway into the Palace Room are divided into three registers. The upper scene shows kneeling figures, recognizable as divine beings from their horned crowns and their wings. Their hands are touching a stylized palm tree, whose origin and meaning has not yet been conclusively deciphered. In the lower picture field, bird-headed genii, known as Apkallu in the Akkadian language, appear to be harvesting a similar tree.

The two friezes are separated by several lines of cuneiform script, eloquently praising the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE) for his outstanding authority, his piety, his military successes, and his building achievements in Nimrud. The standard inscription begins with the words: "Palace of Ashurnasirpal, priest of Ashur, favorite of Enlil and Ninurta, beloved of Anu and Dagan, the weapon of the great gods, the mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria."

This is located at the Pergamon museum.

Supplementary images:

Ashurnasirpal II - Favourite of the gods, Alabaster, Kalhu/Nimrud (Iraq), 9th century BC, located at the Pergamon museum

Taken on Wednesday 07th of August 2019

Device: Google

Model: Pixel 3 XL

Genre: 9th Century BC

Source: Berlin, Germany

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