Ashurnasirpal II And The Winged Deity Analysis

Ashurnasirpal II and the Winged Deity

Stone Panel in Bas-relief, Ashurnasirpal II and a Winged Deity (9th century B.C.E.) once lined the inner walls of the Northwest Palace of King Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud. Located, on the Tigris River in northern Iraq, Nimrud was the capital of Assyria during Ashurnasirpal II’s reign. The bas-relief, consisting of five panels, conveys the power of kingship by portraying Ashurnasirpal II’s importance and visually communicates the message of Ashurnasirpal II’s and Assyria’s dedication to the deities. The relief demonstrates the king’s supreme power and dedication to gods through its stylistic features and by depicting him in the company of supernatural figures and showing offerings made to the gods. To begin with, the bas-relief represents king’s power through its visual characteristics. According to M.E.L. Mallowan the palace “was the king’s crowning architectural triumph-majestically planned and powerfully adorned” which gives an insight about what function this palace has had in greater context The sone panels of the relief are monumental in size, and access to them—their placement on the walls of

Ashurnasirpal II is portrayed as a “deeply religious person who is concerned with satisfying the wishes and need of deities.” The king is holding a bowl with his left hand, which appears to be a libation bowl. A libation is a ritual pouring to show offerings to the gods. Also, the winged deity is carrying a bucket “identified as the banduddu of ritual texts,” and believed to be filled with “holy water.” Therefore, both the libation bowl Ashurnasirpal II is holding and the bucket the winged deity is carrying show that they are both engaged in a ritual ceremony. Why is the ritual important? Bence yukardaki sacred power’a bagla. Bundan sonraki paragraph da birlesebilir burayla hepsi divinity/rituals