Relief of Sennacherib and Attendants
Stone
Khorsabad
322 cm x 249.2 cm x 20 cm
A7368
Oriental Institute Museum
Relief of Sennacherib and Attendants
The elaborate sculptural decoration used in King Sargon II's palace at Dur Sharrukin (modern-day Khorsabad) was a visual expression of the power of the king and his empire. This large, rectangular relief (with traces of red pigment) comes from one of the walls that lined the courtyard outside the throne room. The figure on the left has come to be identified as the crown prince, Sennacherib, who raises his right hand in greeting to his father. Sennacherib has a long beard (a symbol of royalty) and wears a headband with rosettes and a long tasseled streamer. He is followed by beardless attendants, who may have been eunuchs.
Collected by
Assyrian Expedition
Excavated by The Oriental Institute 1928-1929
Multimedia
The Ancient City of Khorsabad
Dr. Gil Stein, Director of the Oriental Institute, discusses the importance of the ancient capital city of Khorsabad in this video.
A Relief from Khorsabad
This monumental relief from Khorsabad was an important part of the entrance to King Sargon's throne room.
How Do We Care for Ancient Artifacts?
How do artifacts survive over time? Oriental Institute Museum conservator Laura D'Alessandro tells us how they are cared for in this video.
Suggested Readings
Parpola, Simo. Letters from Assyria and the West: The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press, 1987.
Reade, Julian. Assyrian Sculpture. London: The British Museum, 1983.
Roaf, Michael. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. New York: Facts on File, 1990.