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Hunting Scenes
1

King Hunts Bulls
Directly to the right of the king and his throne dias, you see the king himself, once again. This time he is in action, hunting the wild animals of the steppes and mountains.

One of the kingÕs titles is Ògreat one, unique in his ferocityÓ. This relief and those that follow provide illustrations of the heroic aspects of kingship. Here is Assur-nasir-pal hunting the fierce wild bulls and lions of the mountains. These animals were considered from earliest times the most powerful and fearsome creatures of the ancient near east.

The roar of the lion and the bellow of the bull were used by Mesopotamilans as metaphors for the thunder that symbolized both the coming of life-giving rain in an arid land and the advent of the destructive flood storm with which the gods destroyed all living things.

The storm gods ride bulls and Ishtar in her guise as a sotrm goddess and a lady of battle rides a lion. The lion headed bird is the quintessential symbol of the powerful roar of the storm.

From earliest times hunting is a religious requirement of kingship.

2

King Hunts Lions
The king hunts lions, perhaps in a private hunting park. Notice that his clothing has been changed to suit the occasion. The role of the king as a hunter of ferocious animals is as old as Sumer itself. One of the earliest objects of sculpture we have from Mesopotamia shows the cityÕs civic leader, not its leader in war, shooting lions. Hunting is, of course the sport of kings at least in the western tradition and even in medieval England some animals were forbidden to the common man. In Mesopotamia the lion and the wild bull were the kingÕs particular adversaries from the beginnings of recorded history. The lions are the animals who are the enemy in the marshes. The wild bull is the enemy in the mountainous uplands.

3

King Pours Libation
Here the king, holding his bow in his left hand, pours a libation over the dead lion. His eunuchs accompany him. They carry his quivers and mace, that ancient shepherd's symbol of legitimate force. The eunuch to the right who faces the king lifts a fly swatter to keep away pests.

Also in attendance is a bearded male, at the right, possibly the crown prince.

Harpers play and the whole scene may have religious overtones. From the earliest days of settled life in Mesopotamia the inhabitants of that land have shown their kings fighting and their gods riding upon lions and wild bulls. Assur-nasir-palÕs writings tell us he he hunted because the gods themselves told him to do so.


back to Northwest Palace Overview

Hunting Scenes 1 King Hunts Bulls Directly to the right of the king and his throne dias, you see the king himself, once again. This time he is in action, hunting the wild animals of the steppes and mountains. One of the kingÕs titles is Ògreat one, unique in his ferocityÓ. This relief and those that follow provide illustrations of the heroic aspects of kingship. Here is Assur-nasir-pal hunting the fierce wild bulls and lions of the mountains. These animals were considered from earliest times the most powerful and fearsome creatures of the ancient near east. The roar of the lion and the bellow of the bull were used by Mesopotamilans as metaphors for the thunder that symbolized both the coming of life-giving rain in an arid land and the advent of the destructive flood storm with which the gods destroyed all living things. The storm gods ride bulls and Ishtar in her guise as a sotrm goddess and a lady of battle rides a lion. The lion headed bird is the quintessential symbol of the powerful roar of the storm. From earliest times hunting is a religious requirement of kingship. 2 King Hunts Lions The king hunts lions, perhaps in a private hunting park. Notice that his clothing has been changed to suit the occasion. The role of the king as a hunter of ferocious animals is as old as Sumer itself. One of the earliest objects of sculpture we have from Mesopotamia shows the cityÕs civic leader, not its leader in war, shooting lions. Hunting is, of course the sport of kings at least in the western tradition and even in medieval England some animals were forbidden to the common man. In Mesopotamia the lion and the wild bull were the kingÕs particular adversaries from the beginnings of recorded history. The lions are the animals who are the enemy in the marshes. The wild bull is the enemy in the mountainous uplands. 3 King Pours Libation Here the king, holding his bow in his left hand, pours a libation over the dead lion. His eunuchs accompany him. They carry his quivers and mace, that ancient shepherd's symbol of legitimate force. The eunuch to the right who faces the king lifts a fly swatter to keep away pests. Also in attendance is a bearded male, at the right, possibly the crown prince. Harpers play and the whole scene may have religious overtones. From the earliest days of settled life in Mesopotamia the inhabitants of that land have shown their kings fighting and their gods riding upon lions and wild bulls. Assur-nasir-palÕs writings tell us he he hunted because the gods themselves told him to do so.