Art in Ancient Assyria
During the 9th century BC, the region from the border of Egypt to the Persian Gulf was controlled by the Assyrians. Like many societies, the Assyrians believed they had to advance their religious beliefs through warfare and conquest. The first people to use iron weapons, they were masterful strategists who mastered the using horse drawn chariots in battle.
Their military might was imposing and many of their foes surrendered to the Assyrians without any fight. The opponents who resisted faced an advanced military force with battering rams, charioteers and rolling seige towers that were a huge tactical advantage.
The Assyrian art found in the world’s museums demonstrates that hunting was an important and symbolic activity. In Assyria this was definitely the case as there are dozens of stone art works from Assyria that depict the Royal Hunt. The acient Assyrians placed great importance on the Royal Hunt as a means of demonstrating the kings rule over brute nature and his courage. The king added to his own leged and reputation as a warrior by participating in the Royal Hunt. There is certain to be some exageration in the events, but if these wall reliefs tell even half the story than the kings were men worthy of rule.
Ancient Assyrian art also sheds light on the ceremonial aspects of the Royal Hunt. In many of the reliefs discovered by archaeologists, the king is shown offering up animals as a sacrifice to the sun God Nergal. Known as the god of war, this Mesopotamian deity also ruled the underworld.
Of all the animals hunted by the king and his royal party, the lion presented the greatest challenge and prestige. Armed with a spear and bow and riding in a chariot, the king would chase the lion and bring him down. Once the lion was hurt and immobile, the king would step down from his chariot and complete the job with his sword. One must consider the fact that ancient art depicting royalty was meant to please the king, so its not clear just how active a role the king may have played in the hunt.
On display at the British Museum is a relief of Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, who is shown riding a horse with a bow and arrow raised and ready to fire. He is hunt targets the wild donkey where were considered a scourge at the time. The practice of hunting wild asses and thinning the herds was considered a noble, worthwhile pursuit. Ashurbanipal was the last of the great Assyrian kings. He ruled at the height of the Assyrian empire, but twenty years after his death the empire had fallen.
Many Assyrian wall reliefs have led scholars to believe that hunting lions was so popular that the local lion population was decimated. Lions were imported in from other regions and release for the purpose of hunting. This is evident from a number of Assyrian wall reliefs that show lions being released from cages.
Tags: ancient art, ashurbanipal, assyrian art, assyrian wall reliefs, mespotamian art
