Two Lamassu from Nimrud
Plaque with two winged griffins, each trampling a fallen Asiatic
Neo-Assyrian, ca. 9th–7th century B.C.E.
Northern Mesopotamia, excavated at Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), Fort Shalmaneser, Room SW 35
Ivory, 3 1/4 x 7 3/4 in. (8.4 x 19.7 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1961, MMA 61.197.8
Photo © Joan Ann Lansberry


Horus as a Falcon @ ARTIC

As the Assyrian empire grew, it even overtook Egypt in the 7th century B.C.E. Perhaps they also took Egyptian themes also, for here we see Horus, associated with kingship, in griffin form, with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle (or RAPTOR - falcon), trampling a foe. The info card describes the foe as an 'Asiatic'. "In context with the Ancient Egyptians, Asiatic is used to mean beyond the borders of Egypt and the continent of Africa to the east, but only of western Asia, or what may now be considered Middle Eastern." (Source Wikipedia).

That would ironically include Northern Mesopotamia. So what was going on with this plaque? Had it been created in Egypt and brought back to Nimrud, as an example of what the Egyptians thought of them? (Notice the fallen people have the head bands and long beards of the Assyrians, see first prince at left in this relief.) Or were the Assryrians affirming that THEY weren't the dreaded foe?