Ancient Assyrian Relief Discovered in Nineveh Reveals Rare Depictions of Deities!
Archaeologists from Heidelberg University have made a major discovery in Iraq's ancient city of Nineveh: a monumental Assyrian relief that could transform our understanding of the Assyrian Empire’s religious and political symbolism. The relief was found in the throne room of King Ashurbanipal’s North Palace and dates back to the 7th century BCE, making it one of the most significant archaeological finds in recent times.
The impressive bas-relief, measuring around 5.5 metres in length, 3 metres in height, and weighing a staggering 12 tonnes, features King Ashurbanipal, the last great ruler of the Assyrian Empire (669–631 BCE), flanked by two major deities: Ashur and Ishtar. Also visible are mythological figures such as a fish-genius, symbolising life and salvation, and a scorpion-man with raised arms, possibly representing protection or support.
Photo Credit: Aaron Schmitt / Heidelberg University
These divine figures suggest the original artwork likely included a large winged sun disk above the scene, a symbol commonly used to denote divine favour and royal power. According to Professor Dr Aaron Schmitt, who is leading the excavations, “Among the many reliefs we know from Assyrian palaces, depictions of the gods themselves are virtually unheard of,” making this discovery particularly rare and culturally significant.
The find is part of the Heidelberg Nineveh Project, launched in 2018 under the guidance of Prof. Dr Stefan Maul from the university’s Department of Languages and Cultures of the Near East. Since 2022, the team has focused their efforts on the Kuyunjik mound, the heart of ancient Nineveh, located near modern-day Mosul. This area once thrived under the rule of King Sennacherib in the late 8th century BCE, when Nineveh served as the capital of the vast Assyrian Empire.
Photo Credit: Michael Rummel / Heidelberg University
The relief was unearthed in an unexpected spot, buried in a backfilled pit behind a niche facing the throne room’s main entrance, a space likely chosen for its ceremonial significance. Archaeologists believe the pit was dug during the Hellenistic period (3rd–2nd century BCE), long after the fall of the Assyrian Empire. Ironically, this later burial may have helped preserve the relief, protecting it from both natural decay and looting. Earlier British expeditions in the 19th century, which uncovered other notable palace reliefs now housed in the British Museum, had not reached this particular section.
The team is now closely analysing the fragments. The stone is thought to be gypsum, but further tests will confirm this, along with more insights into the symbolism of each figure. Prof. Schmitt said the results will be published in an academic journal in due course.
As part of their agreement with Iraq’s State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, there are also plans to reassemble the relief and possibly restore it to its original location within the palace. The ultimate goal is to make the artwork accessible to the public, offering a direct link to a civilisation that continues to captivate the world centuries after its fall.