Lammasu [sic] and shedu are two distinct types of good-aligned creatures in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, with lammasu having the bodies of winged lions and shedu depicted as human-headed winged bulls. Arts and humanities > . This colossal sculpture of a winged-bull was one of a series that guarded the entrance to the throne room of Sargon II, king of Assyria (721-705 BC), in his palace at Khorsabad, the capital city of the Neo-Assyrian Empire during his reign. World History Encyclopedia. ", Learn how and when to remove this template message, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, Assyrian Human Headed Winged Lion and Bull (Lamassu), http://www.torrossa.it/resources/an/2401509#page=241, "Assyrian Human Headed Winged Lion and Bull (Lamassu)", Webpage about the du in the Louvre Museum, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lamassu&oldid=1150890422, This page was last edited on 20 April 2023, at 16:53. In 2015, the French Ministry of Culture decided to invest in media resources to share knowledge and help preserve the heritage of the Near East. Accessed March 12, 2015. http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/nimrud/livesofobjects/stonegenies, http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/papsukkal/. wavy hair that comes just below the crown, and then you have a connected eyebrow. King Sargon II died in a bloody battle in 705 BC and his body was never found. World History Encyclopedia. The first distinct lamassu motif appeared in Assyria during the reign of Tiglath-Pileser II as a symbol of power. Become a Friend of the Louvre (in French). However, many ancient Assyrian cities and palacesand their gates, with intact lamassu figures and other sculpturesremain as important archaeological sites in their original locations in Iraq. note that each of these Lamassu are actually Direct link to Jeffrey A. Becker's post The lamassu from Nimrud n, Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Marvin Cohen's post The letters B.C.E. Their targets included the lamassu figures that stood at one of the many ceremonial gates to this important ancient Assyrian city. Possibly gypsum, Dur-Sharrukin, entrance to the throne room, c.721-705 B.C. Written in Akkadian, the official language of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, both describe Sargon's building of his new capital, giving thanks to several gods. The demands for timber and other materials and craftsmen, who came from as far as coastal Phoenicia, are documented in contemporary Assyrian letters. Similar to Chinese Lions of Fo, or shishi, lamassu are guardian sculptures, typically appearing in pairs, that were often placed outside prominent sites. A bearded man with a winged bull body appears on the logo of the United States Forces Iraq. 9-18 (read for free online via JSTOR), Figure \(\PageIndex{67}\): More Smarthistory images. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Often in pairs these human-animal figures, such as the Lamassu, functioned as protective guardians against outside supernatural powers and its 5 legs could be viewed from the front as standing firm with 2 legs planted against a threat or by the side where it is depicted as striding forward against evil with 4 long and strong legs. Lamassu: backstory. The winged bull stands at 16 feet tall and weighs approximately 40 tons. Michael Rakowitz, a Northwestern University professor of Art Theory & Practice, won a Fourth Plinth commission to recreate the Lamassu that stood in Nineveh, Iraq, from 700 BC until it was destroyed by ISIS in 2015. Direct link to FreshBakedPizza's post At 3:25, what does 'cunei, Posted 4 years ago. During Sargon II control (reigned 721-705 BC) there were only small changes during his reign. They hardly look scratched given that they date to around 720-705 B.C.E. The creature's official name is a Lamassu, an ancient Assyrian protective deity with cloven feet and a human face. itself there are ringlets as well, so we get a sense lamassu, monumental Mesopotamian relief sculptures dating from the 9th to the 7th century bce. To protect houses, the lamassu were engraved in clay tablets, which were then buried under the door's threshold. -And these sculptures The palace decoration of Ashurbanipal. Their hybrid body and two or three sets of horns were signs of divinity in the Mesopotamian world. were winged bulls with the heads of men. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin.docx. [7][8], The goddess Lama appears initially as a mediating goddess who precedes the orans and presents them to the deities. we've been talking about with a sensitivity to the anatomy of this composite animal. ISIS Destroys Mosul Museum Collection and Ancient Assyrian Statues, Hyperallergic, February 26, 2015. Direct link to Zhu YiMin's post Is there anyone kown abou, Posted 4 years ago. On Monday, May 1, the museum will be closed. Islamic State representatives claimed that these statues were idols that needed to be destroyed. Lumasi do not generally appear as large figures in the low-relief schemes running round palace rooms, where winged genie figures are common, but they sometimes appear within narrative reliefs, apparently protecting the Assyrians.[13]. -This is a Lamassu that -So at each of these Very human. and the imagination of the sculpture. Name: Lamassu Location: the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq, now in the Louvre, Paris Date: ca. The fragments were generously given to the Oriental Institute by the Department of Antiquities of Iraq. For those that have five, two legs can be seen from the front, with the effect being that the figure appears to be standing still; in profile, four legs are visible, which makes the figure appear to be striding forward. Heffron, Yamur. A protective spirit known as a "lamassu", it is shown as a composite being with the head of a human, the body . Watch on. Eventually, female lamassu were identified as "apsas". These creatures were made to protect the king from visible and invisible enemies. this funny relationship between the naturalistic The lamassu, is probably one of these "animals of white stone." Stele with inscription showing the protectrice deity Lam(m)a, dedicated by king Nazi-Maruttash to goddess Ishtar, from Uruk (1307-1282 BC). Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker provide a description, historical perspective, and analysis of Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II. Direct link to Patrick Huber's post There's also a larger one, Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Jonathon's post The lamassu destruction i, Posted 11 days ago. Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker provide a description, historical perspective, and analysis of Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II. Learn more at Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian,. The video features footage of men using jackhammers, drills, and sledgehammers to demolish the lamassu. The video and its description text are provided by Youtube. It's in awfully good condition. If you want to learn about AWS architectural or security best practices where . Metropolitan Museum of Art. Taking advantage of the spoils and prisoners of war, the king undertook the construction of the largest city in the ancient world, a symbol of his omnipotence, with a palace comprising some 200 rooms and courtyards. January 1, 1993. Bio lab 3 . To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. At the entrance of cities, they were sculpted in colossal size, and placed as a pair, one at each side of the door of the city, that generally had doors in the surrounding wall, each one looking toward one of the cardinal points. Winged genius making a gesture of blessing, Servants carrying the king's wheeled throne, Plaque of King Esarhaddon and the Queen Mother Naqija, Expedition to Lebanon: unloading tree trunks from the boats, Flix Thomas, The Pasha of Mosul visiting the excavations of Khorsabad. 2. Original video by Smarthistory, Art History at Khan Academy. The hero has sometimes been identified with Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, whose legendary exploits are recounted in the oldest known texts and were popular throughout the ancient Middle East. hbsbs8. Papsukkal (god). Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses -. One of the most famous lamassu representations is the pair of statues from the Citadel of Sargon II. The lamassu from Nimrud now in the Metropolitan Museum in NYC is made from alabaster (gypsum). Known as a Lamassu, other examples had the body of a lion. Quiz 1 Question Artist: Unknown, from the Assyrian civilization Title: Lamassu Date: ca. Accessed March 12, 2015. October 22, 2004. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 B.C.E., gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843-44 (Muse du Louvre)Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker, IN THE NEWS: Irreplaceable Lamassu sculpture, Assyrianarchitecture and whole archaeological sites have recently been destroyed by militants that control large areas ofIraq and Syria. It would be impossible -They are enormous, but The video features footage of men using jackhammers, drills, and sledgehammers to demolish the lamassu. Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 B.. If there is political or religious destruction of artifacts in one region, collections from that region in distant museums will not be affected. ISIS has turned the destruction of ancient artifacts into entertainment, Los Angeles Times, February 27, 2015. They were parts of city gates or citadel gates (where the temple and palace would be located), and, therefore, they had a structural purpose. So it's important to [3] The motif of a winged animal with a human head is common to the Near East, first recorded in Ebla around 3000 BC. At the entrances to this palace complex that was now the capital, there were hybrid supernatural figures with a bearded human head, the body of a lion, wings of a bird, and 5 legs that stood guard at all entrances to the palace; this creature is known as the Lamassu (or Shedu). Relief sculptures that depict laborers moving the Lamassu to it's intended location. 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At their gates I constructed a portico patterned after a Syrian palace and roofed it with cedar and cypress beams. remember that the Lamassu were the gateway figures, Ashurbanipal hunting lions . Omissions? February 15, 2015. As we approach, we see Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 B.C.E., gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843-44 (Muse du Louvre) Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker. The lamassu is a celestial being from ancient Mesopotamian religion bearing a human head, bull's body, sometimes with the horns and the ears of a bull, and wings. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/525/lamassu-from-the-citadel-of-sargon-ii/. [3], Statuette of the goddess Lama, probably made in a workshop on the outskirts of Mesopotamia. Despite the existence of other examples in museums around the world, the permanent loss of these objects is a permanent loss to global cultural heritage and to the study of ancient Assyrian art and architecture. The Akkadians associated the human-bull hybrid as a gatekeeper associated with the god Papsukkal, who is the attendant deity of Anu (sky god of the supreme deities) and functions as a gatekeeper in the spiritual world by providing a pathway between the higher gods and humans (Heffron). The palace decoration of Ashurbanipal. Are these the actual sculptures? The video features footage of men using jackhammers, drills, and sledgehammers to demolish the lamassu. Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 BCE, gypseous alabaster, 4.20 4.36 0.97 m . Lamassu from the Citadel of Sargon 2, Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad, Iraq) Neo Assyrian 725 705. in both the museum in Mosul, Iraq and at the nearby ancient archaeological site of ancient Nineveh. If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. 9-18 (, Posted 5 years ago. A Lamassu appears in Axiom Verge 2 as a godly machine, designed to protect against interlopers. Well. king and the fortifications of this palace, and this city. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Historians Pore Over ISIS Video of Smashed Statues for Clues to Whats Been Lost,, ISIS Destroys Mosul Museum Collection and Ancient Assyrian Statues,, Isis fighters destroy ancient artefacts at Mosul museum,, ISIS has turned the destruction of ancient artifacts into entertainment,, https://smarthistory.org/lamassu-from-the-citadel-of-sargon-ii/. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. The fearsome Assyrians took their name from Assur, the city on the Tigris River in northern Iraq that was dedicated to the god Ashur. The lamassu combined the powers of the different animals in order to protect the city and its palaceand were benevolent creatures, as you can see from their gentle smile. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Our friends here stand at nearly 4 and a half meters tall, making me feel. Mesopotamia in the Neo-Assyrian period (place names in French) Sargon II ruled from 722 to 705 BC. This was especially true of the protective genii carved on the walls: as their role was to watch over the city and its palace, they were carved at places which needed special protection, such as the doors. Lamassu (bull-man). Livius. But, my friend, do not look at the details of those stories any closer than you look at the details of stories like Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. -Some of which declare The vestiges of the site were not discovered until French archaeologists excavated them in the 19th century resulting in the worlds first Assyrian museum at the Louvre and the brand new discipline of Near Eastern archaeology. Tiny timeline: ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in a global context, 5th3rd millennia B.C.E. What's more interesting-- the Lamassu of Sargon are smiling. Lamassu found during Botta's excavation, now in the Louvre Museum. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Direct link to drszucker's post Cuneiform is a script tha, Posted 8 years ago. Cuneiform script on the back of a lamassu in the University of Chicago Oriental Institute, Modern impression of Achaemenid cylinder seal, fifth century BC. It was created by and for the Assyrian emperor, Sargon II. gates of the citadel itself. He decided that protective genies would be placed on every side of the seven gates to act like guardians. [4], The motif of the Assyrian-winged-man-bull called Aladlammu and Lamassu interchangeably is not the lamassu or alad of Sumerian origin, which were depicted with different iconography. Thank you for your understanding. Academy, S. A. H. a. K. (2014, July 30). -And then there's that marvelous, complex representation of the beard. Direct link to David Alexander's post No. form this lovely decorative pattern up the side of Direct link to colette spivey's post Are these the actual scul, Posted 8 years ago. The LibreTexts libraries arePowered by NICE CXone Expertand are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 B.C.E., gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m . Last modified July 30, 2014. -And then the wings too Their targets included the lamassu figures that stood at one of the many ceremonial gates to this important ancient Assyrian city. The most famous colossal statues of Lamassu have been excavated at the sites of the Assyrian capitals created by King Assurnasirpal II (reigned 883 - 859 BC) and King Sargon II (reigned 721 - 705 BC). Winged, man- headed bulls ; Served to ward off the king's enemies (intimidate) Ancient sculptors insisted on showing complete views of animals. of the fur of the beast. Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.org. The first Lamassu were carved with the body of a lion, but the ones from the palace of King Sargon II have a body of a bull. It's interesting to -What's interesting too these sculptures come from an excavation from Lamassu were used as political propaganda for the Kings of Assyria. ", Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more, Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures. In the Games Workshop miniatures wargame, Warhammer Fantasy Battle, the Lamasu was a mount for the Chaos Dwarf army. ellaziober. is the statue of nebugabnezzer still exsist. even they would have been dwarfed by the architecture. 103 terms. This colossal sculpture of a winged-bull was one of a series that guarded the entrance to the throne room of Sargon II, king of Assyria (721-705 BC), in his palace at Khorsabad, the capital city of the Neo-Assyrian Empire during his reign.This figure, known as a lamassu from the textual sources, is a composite mythological being with the head of a human, the body and ears of a bull, and the . Inscriptions in cuneiform, a wedge-shaped writing system of Mesopotamia, were carved on the front and back of the lamassu. people associated with ISIS destroying ancient artifacts. The winged beasts from Nimrud in Iraq (the ancient city of Kalhu) also became quite famous when Lamassu there were ruined in 2015. Marble, eighth century BC, from Assur, Iraq. In 2015, a chilling video circulated online, showed people associated with ISIS destroying ancient artifacts in both the museum in Mosul, Iraq and at the nearby ancient archaeological site of ancient Nineveh. It is also appears in the ending of the game, where the Prince and Princess ride it to an unknown destination. the Lamassu of the citadel of Sargon II are depicted smiling! Direct link to jackmccann's post what does B.C.E stand for, Posted 8 years ago. Head of lamassu. On Monday, May 1, the museum will be closed. Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker provide a description, historical perspective, and analysis of Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II. Legal. It has since returned as part of the Storm of Magic expansion release. [3] From Assyrian times, Lamma becomes a hybrid deity, half-animal, half-human. Title: Colossal Lamassu Sculpture from the Palace of Sargon II at Khorsabad Creator: Sargon II Date: Neo Assyrian Period 721-705 BC Date Created: Neo-Assyrian Period 721-705 BC Physical. World History Encyclopedia. 1 (Spring, 1948), pp. is that these were meant to be seen both from a frontal view and a profile view. At their entrances, I erected animals made of white stone resembling beasts of the mountain and sea." Lamassus are described by a successor of Sargon as ones who "because of their appearance, turn back an evil person, guard the steps, and secure the path of the king who fashioned them. These sculptures were excavated by P.-E. Botta in 1843-44. A winged solar disc legitimises the Achaemenid emperor, who subdues two rampant Mesopotamian lamassu figures, The entrance of a fire temple in Fort Mumbai displaying a lamassu. (piano music), Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker. A Lamassu appears in Prince of Persia 3D at the end of the Floating Ruins level, where the prince rides on it to the Cliffs. Direct link to emasiamete's post is the statue of nebugabn, Posted 2 years ago. was actually a guardian for the exterior gate of the city. In the Disney film Aladdin (1992), a gold lamassu can be found in the scene where Aladdin and Abu enter the cave in the desert to find the lamp. -And the decorative, Lama, Lamma, or Lamassu (Cuneiform: , .mw-parser-output span.smallcaps{font-variant:small-caps}.mw-parser-output span.smallcaps-smaller{font-size:85%}an.kal; Sumerian: dlamma; later in Akkadian: lamassu; sometimes called a lamassus)[1][2] is an Assyrian protective deity. The excavation of Khorsabad led to the rediscovery of a lost civilisation, known only from the Bible and other ancient texts. Troiani added those, too. I'm assuming Limestone, is that correct? 721-705 BCE Medium: Limestone Location: Originally from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (modern-day Khorsabad), Iraq. You see little ringlets The first change was the capital was moved to Dur Sharrukin (present day Khorsabad) and second the Lamassu was presented on a bulls body compared to a lions and seems to be slightly smiling. , Cite this page as: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker, "Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II," in, Not your grandfathers art history: a BIPOC Reader, Reframing Art History, a new kind of textbook, Guide to AP Art History vol. 2nd, and we're carved at the height of Assyrian civilization in the 8th century BCE. [6] Lamassu represent the zodiacs, parent-stars or constellations. If you look at this illustration in the next video, they are shown as having been painted. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 B.C.E., gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843-44 (Muse du Louvre) Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker Islamic State representatives claimed that these statues were idols that needed to be destroyed. in particular come from the palace of Sargon the The lamassu and shedu were household protective spirits of the common Assyrian people, becoming associated later as royal protectors, and were placed as sentinels at entrances. That is, the area within From the front they appear to stand, and from the side, walk, and in earlier versions have five legs, as is apparent when viewed obliquely. Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 BCE, gypseous alabaster, 4.20 4.36 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843-44 (Muse du Louvre) In the News Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. lamassu, monumental Mesopotamian relief sculptures dating from the 9th to the 7th century bce. Lamassu appear in the novel Magic Rises, the 6th book of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. In 713 BC, Sargon founded his capital, Dur Sharrukin. Some of Bottas finds were exhibited at the Louvre, where the worlds first Assyrian museum was inaugurated on 1 May 1847. Lendering, Jona. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. King Sargon II had a particular interest in Lamassu and commissioned several works including these mythical beasts. Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions The palace decoration of Ashurbanipal Assyria vs Elam: The battle of Til Tuba . Oriental Institute archaeologists excavating at Khorsabad in northern Iraq discovered the colossal sculpture in 1929. Khorsabad, ancient Dur Sharrukin, Assyria, Iraq, gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843-44 (Muse du Louvre) (photo: Dr. Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Assyria vs Elam: The battle of Til Tuba. Of greatest concern are the recent reports of the destruction of ancient art and architecture in and around Nineveh and the black market in antiquities. It's decorated with Lamassus are described by a successor of Sargon as ones who "because of their appearance, turn back an evil person, guard the steps, and secure the path of the king who fashioned them. When viewed from the front, the bulls appear to be standing still with their back legs together. 10 terms. 24 terms. . During the Assyrian period, Mesopotamian kings established palaces in cities such as Nimrd and Dur Sharrukin.

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