Lion Hunt in Chariot - Item #3
Item is in stock Only 0 left in stock Item is out of stock Item is unavailable
38 Inches High x 56 Inches Wide x 3 Inches Deep
The Kingdom of Assyria was located in the valley of the River Tigris in modern-day northern Iraq. The Assyrian king was also the high priest of the god Ashur. From the ninth to seventh centuries BCE, Assyrian artists carved figures from lines. The bodies of the figures were depicted frontally while the heads were shown in profile. As curator Paul Collins of the British Museum said, “no individual in the reliefs ever looks out at the viewer, they exist in a self-contained world in which the action unfolds."
This relief was discovered in the North West Palace in the city of Nimrud (also known as Calah and Kalhu). Some of the most impressive Assyrian artworks are those that show kings hunting lions in an arena which they did in reality. Lions were regarded as the most dangerous animals in Assyria, and depicting a royal hunt relayed the king’s strength and right to rule. As Collins said, the animals “collapse in agony at the hands of the Assyrian king who, through the support of the gods and his skill with weapons, brings civilization to the chaotic and disordered world that the animals represent.” In this relief, three horses pull a chariot with two men. The archer is either King Ashurnasirpal II, who ruled from 883 to 859 BCE, or his son and heir, Shalmaneser III, who ruled from 858 to 824 BCE. As was done here, it was common in Assyrian art to depict a fallen enemy beneath the horses of a chariot. This lion has been wounded by three arrows. The relief contains cuneiform inscription.
Artist: Unknown
Museum: British Museum, London
Origin: North West Palace, Nimrud, Assyria (modern-day Iraq)
Time Period: Neo-Assyrian, 875-860 B.C.E.
1911 Catalog ID # - 2
Sources:
"Assyria (Room 10)." The British Museum, http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/galleries/middle_east/ room_10_assyria_lion_hunts.aspx.
Collins, Paul. "Introduction" and "The Art of Ashurbanipal." Assyrian Palace Sculptures. The Trustees of the British Museum/British Museum Press, 2008, pp. 8-27, 97-141.
"Wall Panel/Relief." Museum number 124579. The British Museum, http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=369058&partId=1&searchText=124579&page=1.
Pieces are plaster unless otherwise noted. They are made to order and hand cast. We offer our pieces in a variety of patinas/finishes.
Masks and small and large reliefs (except tabletop pieces as noted) come with at least one embedded hook for hanging unless otherwise noted. For all other pieces, like anatomical casts, refer to the product pages.
Questions? View the FAQ page for more information and for answers to frequently asked questions. Email us at contact@capronicollection.com or call us at 781-933-2455.
View the patina/finish options for your hand-made reproduction here or above. Be sure to make your selection when adding the item to your cart.
Most items ship within a few days to 3 weeks as our reproductions are made to order and hand cast.
Customers in the contiguous United States receive free ground shipping automatically at checkout. Note that an oversized item – typically an item weighing more than 150 pounds when packaged – will not populate a shipping rate because it may have to ship via a freight carrier. In this case, please contact us for a quote. Customers in Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories and international customers can find shipping options in the checkout process.
Items must be opened and inspected within 48 hours of delivery to report any damage.
Returns are not accepted; all sales are final as pieces are made to order and hand cast.
More info and answers to frequently asked questions can be found under FAQ.