5The Assyrian Lion Hunt Reliefs
Step into the ancient Assyrian world with the Lion Hunt Reliefs from the palace of King Ashurbanipal (7th century BC) in Nineveh, modern-day Iraq. These massive carved panels depict the king heroically slaying lions—a symbol of royal power and divine protection.
The realism is astonishing: you can see the tension in the lions’ muscles, the emotion in their faces, and the precision of the archers. Considered some of the finest examples of ancient Near Eastern art, they bring to life the grandeur and brutality of an empire long gone.
Gallery: Room 10b
