Ashurnasirpal II, Assyrian relief, Northwest-Palace, Room C, Relief C-b-2 (Metropolitan Museum of Ar — sipazigaltumu

This slab originates from the Northwest-Palace of the Assyrian king Ashur-nasir-pal II. (883-859 BC) in ancient Kalhu (modern Nimrud), one of the capitals of the Assyrian state in the 1st millennium BC. The main excavations in this part of the mound/tell of Nimrud were conducted by the British archaeologist Henry Austen Layard. Although a major part of Ashurnasirpals reliefs went to London, the others were scattered around the globe. This one was Layard's present to Canford Manor where it was purchased by auction later by John D. Rockefeller Jr. Room C where this relief can be assigned to is adjacent to the throne room of the Northwest-Palace. It is a rather small room with one entrance from the throne room (B) and two doorways on the opposite side leading. The pertaining relief was found in the right of these two doorways. The little niche actually was intended for a wooden beam.