Assyrian Tree Of Life Research Paper

Having been around since 4th millennium Mesopotamia, the Tree of Life is a significant and familiar art motif. By 2nd Millenium BC, the Tree of Life had descended everywhere within ancient Eastern provinces and acts as a religious symbol that upholds unique definitions for every region in the world. The Assyrian Tree of Life holds an individual interpretation, has different elements used to define the tree, and can be compared to the movie Tree of Life.

The Assyrian Tree of Life was chosen as an imperial symbol. Although historians haven’t discovered much evidence to completely define the tree, two points had been established concerning the function of the tree in the throne room of Ashurnasirpal (the last great king of the Assyrian Empire)

The Assyrian Tree of Life contains a Lattice Pattern. Each branch forms an extension from the core ending in a fruit. The Cosmic Pole is the trunk of the tree and it became significant as the staff of the caduceus and the Axis Mundi of the World Pillar. The Bell jar shape of the overall tree represents an emanated life force. The fruit of the tree is always rather plump and ripe and represents a “fruit of immortality.” The Solar Winged Disk is an important element and hovers over the tree representing a royal God. (Ashurnasirpal was the last great king embodied in the winged disk hovering above the tree.) The Genii are the bearded male figures in birds’ wings. The creature standing beside the tree contains the spirit of an exorcised demon and supernatural protective powers for the king and his people. The wings on the Genii show a sign of

Specifically directed towards the Biblical tree of life, comparisons of the Assyrian tree and Malick’s tree can be made. Malick’s Tree of Life was centered around the Christian faith while the Assyrian Tree of Life was centered around the polytheistic Mesopotamia faith. Rather than referring to Adam and Eve, Malick pointed out to the Biblical character Job who had struggled and experienced a “battle” with God when he lost everything in his life. God never directly answered Job’s questions, but rather asked theoretical questions back to Job to allow him to reflect his own life. In the Assyrian Tree of Life, the tree is centered around God Assur. As he was notably the last great king of Assyria during the creation of the tree, the tree was originated to express honor towards him. Citizens honored God Assur as he had maintained world order within his hands. The Assyrian Tree of Life represented world divinity ordered by man through the form of a tree. Malick’s tree of life represented phases of life. As the tree was a seed, we were cells. When the tree sprouted, we were kids going through the “blackness” of earth. (Malick pointed out the grand blankness of Earth. Nature will not pause its natural reactions for our pain. Even as Job had said “for I am but dust and ashes”, humans are truly nothing.) When the tree was completely grown, we were as well grown. When the tree leaves withered, fell, and