Lamassu from the Citadel of Sargon IIDur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq, ca.
Lamassu from the Citadel of Sargon IIDur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq, ca. 720–705 bceDuringthe first half of the first millennium BCE,the fearsome Assyrians vanquished the various warfaring peoples thatsucceeded the Babylonians and Hittites, including the Elamites, whosecapital of Susa they sacked in 641 BCE. Theroyal citadel of Sargon II at Dur Sharrukin reveals in its ambitiouslayout the confidence of the Assyrian kings in their all-conqueringmight. Guardingthe gate to Sargon’s palace were colossal limestone monsters, whichthe Assyrians probablycalled lamassu.Thesewinged, manheaded bulls served to ward off the king’s enemies. Thetask of moving and installing these immense stone sculptures was sodaunting that several reliefs in the palace of Sargon’s successorcelebrate the feat, showing scores of men dragging lamassu figureswith the aid of ropes and sledges. The Assyrian lamassu sculpturesare partly in the round, but the sculptor nonetheless conceived themas high reliefs on adjacent sides of a corner. (x) -- source link
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