Assyrian Relief

Winged Spirit of Apkallu from Kalhu (Nimrud), Iraq; Northwest Palace, Room S, panel 17

Winged Spirit of Apkallu from Kalhu (Nimrud), Iraq; Northwest Palace, Room S, panel 17

This particular relief was once part of the Northwest Palace Built by King Ashurnasirpal II of Assyria around 879 BCE to display Assyrian culture and his own power.  This particular relief displays a grand image of a winged figure.  Such winged figures were often associated with Apkallu, a spirit in Assyrian religion who symbolized a number of things, including magical and protective powers, wisdom, and fertility, all of which are desirable traits for a king.  Likewise, the image of the winged spirit very closely resembles other reliefs depicting Ashurnasirpal II himself, potentially implying that the spirit Apkallu is supporting the reign of king Ashurnasirpal II, or is even within him.  This further suggests that Ashurnasirpal II has the qualities associated with the Apkallu: Magic powers giving him the divine right to rule, protective powers giving him the ability to rule over and defend his kingdom, wisdom to make proper decisions for his kingdom, and fertility to grow his kingdom and provide sons to maintain his achievements.  While there is a lot that can be implied from the imagery, the inscription provides possibly the most clearcut presentation of the purpose of the relief.

Written in cuneiform over not just this relief but many other reliefs and objects from the Northwest Palace, the inscription reads, “The ancient city of Kalhu… had become dilapidated; it lay dormant and had turned into ruined hills. I rebuilt this city. I took people that I had conquered… [and] I settled them therein. I dug a canal… I planted orchards in its environs… I cleared away the old ruin hill and dug down to water level; I sank the foundations to a depth of 120 layers of brick. I built its walls anew.”  Written as though quoting Ashurnasirpal II himself, the inscription first labels the city of Kalhu as a city of great historical importance that had declined into nearly nothingness.  However, he then explains what he has done to uplift Kalhu and bring it back to its ancient greatness.  He even makes the choice to begin each statement by saying “I”, emphasizing that it was he, Ashurnasirpal II, who had caused all all these improvements.  By making these claims in this manner, especially “I rebuilt the city” and “I took the people that I had conquered… [and] I settled them therein”, because they prop him up almost as a savior and liberator type of figure. Although this predates biblical notions of a savior, these statements still give the impression of a power that is god like.

Portrait of Ashurnasirpal II

This inscription, when paired with the imagery of the relief, give a clear intention by Ashurnasirpal II to display the power and success he had achieved as king, and as a result proclaim his legitimacy as king.  By displaying his power and and associating himself with divine figures, he establishes that he is a rightful king and should be followed by his subjects.