by DR. STEVEN ZUCKER and DR. BETH HARRIS. The hero has sometimes been identified with Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, whose legendary exploits are recounted in the oldest known texts and were popular throughout the ancient Middle East. [3] The protective deity is clearly labelled as Lam(m)a in a Kassite stele unearthed at Uruk, in the temple of Ishtar, goddess to which she had been dedicated by king Nazi-Maruttash (13071282 BC). A Lamassu appears in Prince of Persia 3D at the end of the Floating Ruins level, where the prince rides on it to the Cliffs. Is there anyone kown about the inscription near the lamassu's belly? "Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II." Lamassus are described by a successor of Sargon as ones who "because of their appearance, turn back an evil person, guard the steps, and secure the path of the king who fashioned them. Another section reads: "I built palaces of ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, juniper, burashu-juniper, and pistachio-wood for my royal dwelling. small task to get these stones in place. Winged genius making a gesture of blessing, Servants carrying the king's wheeled throne, Plaque of King Esarhaddon and the Queen Mother Naqija, Expedition to Lebanon: unloading tree trunks from the boats, Flix Thomas, The Pasha of Mosul visiting the excavations of Khorsabad. From the front they appear to stand, and from the side, walk, and in earlier versions have five legs, as is apparent when viewed obliquely. Everett Munez was an Editorial Intern at Encyclopdia Britannica. This marked the beginning of Mesopotamian and Near Eastern archaeology. -And various Assyrian people associated with ISIS destroying ancient artifacts. ISIS Destroys Mosul Museum Collection and Ancient Assyrian Statues, Hyperallergic, February 26, 2015. In the Assyrian mythology there were human headed winged bulls/lions that were protective genies. ", Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more, Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures. Direct link to David Alexander's post It was created by and for, Posted 8 years ago. This figure, known as a lamassu from the textual sources, is a composite mythological being with the head of a human, the body and ears of a bull, and the wings of a bird. The lamassu, is probably one of these "animals of white stone." With great difficulty, the pieces were transported to Chicago, inserted through the wall of the gallery as it was being built in 1930, and assembled and restored in place. The Akkadians associated the human-bull hybrid as a gatekeeper associated with the god Papsukkal, who is the attendant deity of Anu (sky god of the supreme deities) and functions as a gatekeeper in the spiritual world by providing a pathway between the higher gods and humans (Heffron). -As figures that stood at to broach the citadel without being awestruck by the power of this civilization. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. -So this is modern day Khorsabad. Lamassu is an enemy in the Neo Babylon levels of Spelunky 2, and in the Neo Babylon level set in the Cosmic Ocean section. Similar to Chinese Lions of Fo, or shishi, lamassu are guardian sculptures, typically appearing in pairs, that were often placed outside prominent sites. It was a composite of the most powerful and ferocious creatures known in the region, and this particular sculpture was huge - about 4.5m . A Lamassu appears in Prince of Persia 3D at the end of the Floating Ruins level, where the prince rides on it to the Cliffs. Direct link to jackmccann's post what does B.C.E stand for, Posted 8 years ago. Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II. Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 BCE, gypseous alabaster, 4.20 4.36 0.97 m . Would the Lamassus have been painted and if so what colours they have used? Traces of colour are still visible, especially on the kings crown. 3 (#99152), Dr. Elena FitzPatrick Sifford on casta paintings. It appears frequently in Mesopotamian art. Original video by Smarthistory, Art History at Khan Academy. 24 terms. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. This page titled 7.5.3: Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Smarthistory. World History Encyclopedia. -Well my favorite part is the crown. This Human-Headed Winged Bull is a Lamassu, which is an Assyrian protective deity, often depicted as having a human head, the body of a bull or a lion, and bird wings. and four from the side, but of course, one of He appears at the Stone Table, challenging the White Witch "with a great bellowing voice". These fantastic creatures, called aladlamm or lamassu, have the body and ears of a bull, the wings of an eagle and the crowned head of a human whose face resembles depictions of Sargon II. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/525/lamassu-from-the-citadel-of-sargon-ii/. Trebonianus Gallus emperor or athlete? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 721-705 BCE Medium: Limestone Location: Originally from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (modern-day Khorsabad), Iraq. 2nd, and we're carved at the height of Assyrian civilization in the 8th century BCE. [3], Statuette of the goddess Lama, probably made in a workshop on the outskirts of Mesopotamia. The bull had broken into more than a dozen pieces in antiquity. So there were palaces at Nimrid and Assur before this, and after there'll be a palace at Nineveh, but Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker provide a description, historical perspective, and analysis of Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II. The video only refers to it as "A megalith stone" but what stone exactly? The Nergal gate is only one of many artifacts and sites that have been demolished or destroyed by ISIS over the past decade. Khorsabad, ancient Dur Sharrukin, Assyria, Iraq, gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843-44 (Muse du Louvre) (photo: The lamassu in museums today (including the Louvre, shown in our video, as well the British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad, and others) came from various ancient Assyrian sites located in modern-day Iraq. HIST Inquizitive Midterm. but the walls of the palace were decorated Lamassu from the Citadel of Sargon 2, Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad, Iraq) Neo Assyrian 725 705. -And these sculptures Assyrians, who controlled the ancient Near East from about 1000 BCE to around 500 BCE. his hindquarters move back, and then we can see hbsbs8. Stele with inscription showing the protectrice deity Lam(m)a, dedicated by king Nazi-Maruttash to goddess Ishtar, from Uruk (1307-1282 BC). Accessed March 12, 2015. http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/winged-human-headed-bull. [3], Initially depicted as a goddess in Sumerian times, when it was called Lamma, it was later depicted from Assyrian times as a hybrid of a human, bird, and either a bull or lionspecifically having a human head, the body of a bull or a lion, and bird wings, under the name Lamassu. Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 B.C.E., gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843-44 (Muse du Louvre) Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker is that these were meant to be seen both from a frontal view and a profile view. carved out of a monolithic stone, that is, there are no cuts here. The link to this video is provided at the bottom of this page. In the palace of Sargon II at Dur-Sharrukin, a group of at least seven lamassu and two such heroes with lions surrounded the entrance to the "throne room", "a concentration of figures which produced an overwhelming impression of power. often credited as the cradle of civilization, This is why the passageways are flanked by monumental winged bulls, each carved from a single gigantic alabaster block and weighing about 28 tonnes. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Scholars believe that this particular gate, which dates to the reign of Sennacherib around 700 B.C.E., was built to honor the god Nergal, an Assyrian god of war and plague who ruled over the underworld. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin.docx. Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II. Accessed March 12, 2015. http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/nimrud/livesofobjects/stonegenies, http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/papsukkal/. Alexi_Thale. Updates? Direct link to drszucker's post Cuneiform is a script tha, Posted 8 years ago. Are these the actual sculptures? [7][8] They are depicted as protective deities because they encompass all life within them. The first change was the capital was moved to Dur Sharrukin (present day Khorsabad) and second the Lamassu was presented on a bull's body compared to a lions and seems to be slightly smiling. How are we blessed to be so lucky and have these Lamassu in such good condition and as a complete set? It's interesting to Robson, Eleanor. It is also appears in the ending of the game, where the Prince and Princess ride it to an unknown destination. Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II. 4,493 likes, 66 comments - Arkeoloji & Seyahat (@archeo.travel) on Instagram: "Louvre Mzesi'nde bulunan Asur kral II. Winged human-headed bull (lamassu or shedu), Neo-Assyrian Period, reign of Sargon II (721-705 B.C.E.) https://www.worldhistory.org/video/525/lamassu-from-the-citadel-of-sargon-ii/. The Lamassu is one of the character backgrounds in the role-playing game Troika!. . which were both the temple and the royal palace. This website claims no authorship of this content; we are republishing it for educational purposes. even they would have been dwarfed by the architecture. -And then we have this High relief was much prized in the time of Sargon II, when modeling became more marked. In 2015, a chilling video circulated online, showed people associated with ISIS destroying ancient artifacts in both the museum in Mosul, Iraq and at the nearby ancient archaeological site of ancient Nineveh. Lama, Lamma, or Lamassu (Cuneiform: , .mw-parser-output span.smallcaps{font-variant:small-caps}.mw-parser-output span.smallcaps-smaller{font-size:85%}an.kal; Sumerian: dlamma; later in Akkadian: lamassu; sometimes called a lamassus)[1][2] is an Assyrian protective deity. http://oi.uchicago.edu/museum-exhibits/khorsabad-court-gallery. Islamic State representatives claimed that these statues were idols that needed to be destroyed. The pair of human-headed winged bulls stood originally at one of the gates of the citadel, as magic guardians against misfortune. Taking advantage of the spoils and prisoners of war, the king undertook the construction of the largest city in the ancient world, a symbol of his omnipotence, with a palace comprising some 200 rooms and courtyards. The first Lamassu were carved with the body of a lion, but the ones from the palace of King Sargon II have a body of a bull. This colossal sculpture of a winged-bull was one of a series that guarded the entrance to the throne room of Sargon II, king of Assyria (721-705 BC), in his palace at Khorsabad, the capital city of the Neo-Assyrian Empire during his reign. Despite the existence of other examples in museums around the world, the permanent loss of these objects is a permanent loss to global cultural heritage and to the study of ancient Assyrian art and architecture. These alabaster slabs adorned the base of the brick walls and were painted in bright colours, blue and red in particular. The demands for timber and other materials and craftsmen, who came from as far as coastal Phoenicia, are documented in contemporary Assyrian letters. Scholars believe that this particular gate, which dates to the reign of Sennacherib around 700 B.C.E., was built to honor the god Nergal, an Assyrian god of war and plague who ruled over the underworld. Learn more at Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian,. Islamic State representatives claimed that these statues were idols that needed to be destroyed. Troiani added those, too. (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 B.C.E., gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m . Lamassu were used as political propaganda for the Kings of Assyria. The Yelda Khorsabad Court recreates part of the interior of a palace courtyard of the Assyrian king Sargon II (721-705 BCE) from Dur-Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), giving visitors the opportunity to learn about Assyrian royal building under the watch of a 40-ton human-headed winged bull (lamassu). In about 713 BC, he made a radical decision intended to assert his authority: he founded a new capital. Ashurbanipal hunting lions. various gates, there were guardian figures that -They are incredibly impressive. While these hybrid creatures were supernatural beings, they were superior to humans but were not considered to be deities. Lamassu (man-headed winged bull), from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq, ca. ISIS Destroys Mosul Museum Collection and Ancient Assyrian Statues, Hyperallergic, February 26, 2015. These sculptures were excavated by P.-E. Botta in 1843-44. -Some of which declare If so, why are so many of these magnificent pieces in museums and not in their country of origin? Accessed March 12, 2015. http://www.livius.org/mythology/lamassu-bull-man/. King Sargon II had a particular interest in Lamassu and commissioned several works including these mythical beasts. And then under the creature, of the fur of the beast. 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They were represented as "double-aspect" figures on corners, in high relief. The lamassu in museums today (including the Louvre, shown in our video, as well the British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad, and others) came from various ancient Assyrian sites located in modern-day Iraq. -So there really is toward the top center, and then on top of that, [4], The motif of the Assyrian-winged-man-bull called Aladlammu and Lamassu interchangeably is not the lamassu or alad of Sumerian origin, which were depicted with different iconography. we've been talking about with a sensitivity to the anatomy of this composite animal. The fragments were generously given to the Oriental Institute by the Department of Antiquities of Iraq. P. G. Finch, The Winged Bulls at the Nergal Gate of Nineveh, Iraq, Vol. The Nergal gate is only one of many artifacts and sites that have been demolished or destroyed by ISIS over the past decade. Well. So, as long as the Lamassu were outside the palace, the kings believe nothing bad could happen to them. In the film Alexander (2004), lamassu are seen at the Ishtar Gate in Babylon. They were parts of city gates or citadel gates (where the temple and palace would be located), and, therefore, they had a structural purpose. The video and its description text are provided by Youtube. -And the decorative, Direct link to colette spivey's post Are these the actual scul, Posted 8 years ago. February 15, 2015. A winged solar disc legitimises the Achaemenid emperor, who subdues two rampant Mesopotamian lamassu figures, The entrance of a fire temple in Fort Mumbai displaying a lamassu. This figure, known as a lamassu from the textual sources, is a composite mythological being with the head of a human, the body and ears of a bull, and the wings of a bird. If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. These monumental statues were called aladlamm ("protective spirit") or lamassu, which means that the original female word was now applied for a rather macho demon. "Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II." Written in Akkadian, the official language of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, both describe Sargon's building of his new capital, giving thanks to several gods. The fearsome Assyrians took their name from Assur, the city on the Tigris River in northern Iraq that was dedicated to the god Ashur. Direct link to Mary Frank's post Given recent news, this s, Posted 8 years ago. Their targets included the lamassu figures that stood at one of the many ceremonial gates to this important ancient Assyrian city. 23 terms. Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 BCE, gypseous alabaster, 4.20 4.36 0.97 m . The winged bull stands at 16 feet tall and weighs approximately 40 tons. In fact, they had some structural purpose. Museum of the Ancient Orient, Istanbul. 9-18 (read for free online via JSTOR), Figure \(\PageIndex{67}\): More Smarthistory images. Direct link to Jason Johnson's post Were the Lamassu shown at, Posted 8 years ago. During Sargon II control (reigned 721-705 BC) there were only small changes during his reign. Thank you for your understanding. Winged, human-headed bulls served as guardians of the city and its palacewalking by, they almost seem to move. They could also be an Lamassu: backstory. Web. Isis fighters destroy ancient artefacts at Mosul museum, The Guardian, February 26, 2015. Throughout the reign of Ashurnasirpal II and Sargon II, the construction of a new capital presented opportunities to prove the most important aspects of culture and beliefs of the time. The first distinct lamassu motif appeared in Assyria during the reign of Tiglath-Pileser II as a symbol of power. king and the fortifications of this palace, and this city. From Assyrian times, lamassu were depicted as hybrids, with bodies of either winged bulls or lions and heads of human males. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. The palaces were a display of the kings power, and lamassu served to guard and exude that power. The lamassu is a celestial being from ancient Mesopotamian religion bearing a human head, bull's body, sometimes with the horns and the ears of a bull, and wings. To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser. The Genies on the Stairs: Stone Carvings in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Nimrud: Materialities of Assyrian Knowledge Production -. -The most impressive For those that have five, two legs can be seen from the front, with the effect being that the figure appears to be standing still; in profile, four legs are visible, which makes the figure appear to be striding forward. Given recent news, this statement breaks the heart. Direct link to Jonathon's post The lamassu destruction i, Posted 11 days ago. A Lamassu is a bull with a human head and wings, pretty scary looking don't you think? with relief sculpture showing hunting scenes and other scenes indicating royal power.