An expedition archaeological held recently in northern Iraq revealed a sculpture of an Assyrian winged deity, dating back to more than 2,700 years ago.
Surprisingly, the body of the monument has remained remarkably intact, despite losing its head to looters decades ago. In this sense, the discovery is a significant revelation of the region's rich history.
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The sculpture is almost 4 square meters in area.
(Image: Zaid Al-Obeidi/Reproduction)
The work, made of alabaster plaster, is an impressive 3.8 meters high and 3.9 meters long. These characteristics make it weigh approximately 18 tons.
The piece portrays the deity known as “lamassu”, a creature with a human head, a bull's body and wings. The detailing in the sculpture is extraordinary, highlighting the skill and care with which it was created.
However, in 1990, smugglers looted the statue, removing its head. Fortunately, pieces of the head were subsequently recovered, and the sculpture was restored by collaborators at the National Museum of Iraq.
Expedition leader Pascal Butterlin, a French archaeologist, expressed his surprise and awe at the discovery, stating, “I have never unearthed anything so grand in my entire career.”
The excavation was conducted in cooperation with European and Iraqi experts and is a testament to the hard work and collaboration required to preserve these relics of antiquity.
Experts believe that the sculpture dates back to the reign of the Assyrian king Sargon II, who ruled between 722 BC. W. and 705 a. W. It is believed that such a statue was intended to protect a city in northern Iraq.
In mythology, lamassu was considered one of the dominated and domesticated creatures. Sculptures of this nature, which depict winged deities, are generally only found in Egypt and Cambodia, which makes the discovery in Iraq even more significant.
Finally, the exceptional preservation of the statue and its subsequent restoration represent an important milestone in the archeology and history of this region rich in cultural heritage.
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