Ashurnasirpal II and the Winged Deity The relief, consisting of five panels, functions not only as a religious representation, but also imposes the king’s supreme power and portrays his importance. Stone Panel in Bas-relief, Ashurnasirpal and a Winged Deity once lined the inner walls of the Northwest Palace of King Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud. Located, on the Tigris River in northern Iraq, Nimrud was the capital of Assyria during Ashurnasirpal II’s reign. The bas-relief visually communicates its message to its viewer by depicting Ashurnasirpal II’s and Assyria’s dedication to the deities in the company of supernatural figures and by the offerings made to the gods. Moreover, it portrays the king’s dominance and importance by using iconography. …show more content…
King Ashurnasirpal II can be identified from his fez-type headdress, which is a symbol of power and prestige. He is wearing a long garment which exposes his highly idealized muscular forearms to display his strength. Additionally, he is holding a bow in his left hand and two upward-pointing arrows – symbolizing defense and protection from harm – in his right hand. The bow was significant to the Assyrian culture as a means of symbolizing might and military skills, showing the Assyrian’s war-like nature. Moreover, the viewer can realize the rich decorative details that appear on his shoulder; the bull and lion battle. This type of symbolic imagery – portraying the toughness of life in Assyria – is similar to the more common reliefs depicting war and hunting in Assyrian culture. Hence, it harkens back to the king’s indomitable control and powerful skills. The bull and lion represent the Assyrian’s fierce nature, and as such, this scene asserts the king’s fighting skills and brutality. Likewise, as Susanne Hare and Edith Porada stated, his “two daggers, long sword and bow are reminders of war.” Once again, the symbolic imagery evidently offers the viewer clues to the reliefs’ ulterior …show more content…
In the second panel, Ashurnasirpal II is accompanied by a winged human-headed genie. This active presence of the god seems to be protective and supportive. This underscores the idea the king’s role as a priest and representative of the gods, “being granted power by the gods.” The interaction between these two figures reflect the role of Ashurnasirpal II as the representative of the deities. Also, this placement of the king among divinities emphasizes Ashurnasirpal’s role “as mediator between the natural and supernatural