Monday’s picture : the Assyrian reliefs of MaltaiEstimated reading time: 2 min.At Maltai villa
Monday’s picture : the Assyrian reliefs of MaltaiEstimated reading time: 2 min.At Maltai village, in the Dohuk province of Iraq, there are the remains of neo Assyrian sculptures dating back to 689 BCE. They are associated with a canal system built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib (704-681 B.C.) to carry water to the capital of the Assyrian empire, Nineveh.These reliefs were carved into the limestone cliffs of a precipitous mountain spur standing 200 above the village. The decorations appear as separate panels 6 m wide and over 2 m high, numbered I-IV and each one is representing nine figures. The whole scene illustrates a procession of great Assyrian gods standing on animals and bearing the insignia of royalty to the Assyrian king Sennacherib.The conservation state of the reliefs is not optimal: between I and III c. CE two panels have been cut for construction of tombs, they have also been damaged during time by weathering and by human vandalism (graffiti..).Would you like to discover more about Assiryan Empire? Have a look to the interview we made with Daniele Morandi Bonacossi. -- source link
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