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Statue of Ashurnasirpal II

The Statue of Ashurnasirpal II is a magnesite sculpture of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (883–859 BCE). It was discovered in May 1850 by A.H. Layard during excavations at Nimrud, ancient Kalhu, in the ruins of the temple of Šarrat-nipḫi, likely its original setting. The figure stands with uncovered head, long styled hair, and an elaborate braided beard, wearing a long robe and decorated shawl. He holds a ceremonial sickle-like weapon in his right hand and a mace in his left. A short cuneiform inscription on the chest lists the king’s titles and ancestry. The statue is now in the British Museum (BM 118871).

Statue of Ashurnasirpal II standing on a pedestal in a museum gallery, with a bearded figure holding an object across his chest and wearing a long patterned tunic and fringed skirt.
Statue of Ashurnasirpal II displayed on a pedestal in the Harvard Semitic Museum.
April 2016 © · Public domain
Statue of Ashurnasirpal II with a stylized beard, curly hair, and a long staff held vertically across the body.
The Statue of Ashurnasirpal II shows a bearded stone figure standing with a staff or implement against a dark background.
August 1993 © · CC0
Statue of Ashurnasirpal II standing on a rectangular base, with a long carved garment and prominent beard.
Statue of Ashurnasirpal II shown in a stark black-and-white reproduction.
June 2014 © Encyclopædia Britannica, 1911 · Public domain
Statue of Ashurnasirpal II shown as a full-length bearded figure in patterned garments, holding a dagger across the chest.
The Statue of Ashurnasirpal II depicts a bearded figure in layered ceremonial dress, with a dagger held diagonally across the chest.
· Public domain

Identification

TitleStatue of Ashurnasirpal II
TypeStatue
SubjectAshurnasirpal II, Assyrian king
Original-language titlePosąg Aszurnasirpala II

Historical context

Date883–859 BC

Creator

DiscovererAusten Henry Layard

Discovery and provenance

Museum inventory numberBM 118871
In collection since1851
Current locationBritish Museum
Original purposePlaced in the Temple of Ishtar to remind the deity of the king's piety
Original locationTemple of Šarrat-nipḫi (Temple of Ishtar), probably standing there originally
Discovery locationNimrud (ancient Kalhu), in the ruins of the temple of Šarrat-nipḫi / Temple of Ishtar
Discovery dateMay 1850

Physical characteristics

Height113 cm
Width32 cm
Thickness15 cm
ConditionFlawless condition
CraftsmanshipHigh quality
PoseStanding

Appearance

Right hand objectCeremonial sickle-like weapon held in the lowered right hand
Left hand objectCeremonial mace
Head coveringBare-headed, without a royal crown
ClothingLong, short-sleeved robe reaching the feet with a richly decorated fringed shawl draped over it
HairLong, carefully arranged hair
BeardLong, intricately braided beard

Materials

Pedestal height77.5 cm
Pedestal thickness37 cm
Pedestal width56.5 cm
Associated pedestalA pedestal found near the statue on which it originally stood
Material originBoth the magnesite and the red stone were not found locally and were probably transported to Nimrud after a military campaign abroad
Pedestal materialRed dolomite
Statue materialMagnesite

Iconography and meaning

Mace symbolismSymbol of the authority exercised by the king as vice-regent of the supreme god Ashur
Sickle symbolismA weapon sometimes used by gods in Assyrian iconography to fight mythical monsters and demons
Religious and political significanceRepresents the king as vice-regent of the supreme god Ashur

Inscription

Inscription locationAcross the king's chest at chest height
Inscription typeEight-line cuneiform inscription
Inscription contentLists the king's titles and genealogy, including Ashurnasirpal as great king, mighty king, king of the universe, and king of Assyria; son of Tukulti-Ninurta; grandson of Adad-nirari; and mentions a military campaign from the Tigris to the Lebanon Mountains and the Great Sea, assumed to be the Mediterranean Sea

History and restoration

Date of dispatch to LondonWithin a year of its discovery