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| Relief sculpture of spirits venerating a sacred tree |
| Carved gypsum (alabaster) |
| Centimetres: 90 (height), 138 (width), 12 (depth) |
| ca 883-859 BC |
| Reign of Ashurnasirpal II, Neo-Assyrian Period |
| Area of Origin: Nimrud, Northern Mesopotamia (Iraq) |
| Area of Use: Nimrud; Iraq; Asia |
| Wirth Gallery of the Middle East |
| 939.11.2 | | ROM2004_1044_5 | | |
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Description: Beginning at least 6000 years ago, rules for acts of worship were codified by a priestly class and became part of the lives of both ordinary people and kings. Artists represented both the realities of religious practice, as well as scenes depicting mythical characters, demons and winged spirits. The gods were anthropomorphised (seen in human form, but sporting godly traits).
This wall relief is from the palace of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 B.C.) at Nimrud, Iraq. It depicts two winged spirits performing a ceremony before the sacred tree. A cuneiform inscription lists the titles and attributes of Ashurnasirpal II. |
Exhibit History: Wirth Gallery of the Middle East (ROM), 2008-. Sam and Ayala Zacks Gallery of Mesopotamia and Ancient Iran (ROM), 1993-2003. |
Publications: Heinrich, Theodore Allen (1963) Art Treasures in the Royal Ontario Museum 19, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
"Art to 1500" (1972) Ontario Department of Education Correspondence Courses |
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