Assyrian Art

Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy, 11238, New York City

October 7, 2009 – December 31, 2027

The decoration of the royal palaces of the ancient Middle Eastern kingdom of Assyria was meant to overwhelm the ancient visitor with the king's power and to reveal the supernatural world where he existed. Twelve reliefs decorated the vast palace of King Ashur-nasir-pal II (883–859 B.C.E.), one of the greatest rulers of ancient Assyria. Completed in 879 B.C.E. at Kalhu (modern Nimrud, Iraq), they feature majestic images of kings, divinities, sacred trees, and magical beings called apkallu, or "genies." These winged figures could be either human- or eagle-headed. The Assyrians believed apkallu had survived the primordial flood to serve the king.