Greek, Fragment of a Grave Relief, Early 4th century BCE

Running Head : ASSYRIAN BAS RELIEF

Assyrian Bas Relief : The Eagle-Headed Winged Deity

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Assyrian Bas Relief : The Eagle-Headed Winged Deity

In one of the royal palaces of Assurnasirpal II , stands a bas relief that resembles a winged divinity with a head of an eagle . The figure is said to be the guardian of vegetation and fertility . At the right side of the figure is a tree , the so-called tree of fertility (the tree is sometimes located at the left side of the deity . The deity has a

vessel in one of his hands and a spathe (covering for the flowers ) of a palm . At one glance , the primary function of the deity is to water the tree of fertility taking care of its blossoms as long as mankind lives The relief also symbolizes the religious and political significance of the Assyrian kingdom , whose influence ranged from Iran to the Mediterranean east coast . In essence , this Assyrian god (Nisroch ) is of Babylonian origin . In the first Babylonian Empire , the deity symbolized good life ' and fertility

The bas relief is dated about 12th century B .C . to about 600 B .C . Most of its replicas are found in Iraq , at the ruins of Assyrian royal palaces . The material used is stacked mud bricks (from the Tigris River and the medium is gypsum . It is about 110 by 66 centimeters . The subject , of course , is either mythology or epic

Some replicas found is dated about 800 to 600 B .C , at...