Caption

Fragment of an orthostat with relief decoration, unknown Neo-Assyrian workshop. Fragment of a stone wall-facing slab orthostat with a relief representation of two men shooting bows. The man in the foreground holds a bow in his outstretched left hand, drawing it with his bent right hand. The second archer is largely obscured by the first; his head, left side, and left arm holding a drawn bow and arrow are visible. Both archers wear short-sleeved tunics. Heads shown in right profile with identical beard and hairstyle: thick beards depicted by schematic curls arranged in vertical and horizontal rows; headbands with two ends protruding at the back; hair above the headband combed in straight strands over the forehead and falling in thick schematic curls below to the nape. This hairstyle with a headband is characteristic of depictions of Elamite soldiers in Assyrian art. Neo-Assyrian art, 7th century BC, c. 668–c. 631 BC reign of Ashurbanipal. From Kuyunjik Southwestern Palace of Sennacherib, Nineveh. Orthostat; height 36.5 cm, width 37 cm, depth 8.4 cm, weight 15 kg., A carved stone relief showing a group of figures in profile drawing bows, rendered in shades of gray, brown, black, and off-white; the figures have detailed facial hair and patterned hair, and their arms, hands, and bows are carved in relief with visible striations and curved bow shapes; the stone surface shows cracks, weathered textures, and variations of darker and lighter areas, with some smoother and some rougher patches around the edges of the fragment.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A03_053

License type

Rights managed

Available size

101.8Mb (9.3Mb) / 19.9in x 19.9in / 5965 x 5965 (300dpi)

Keywords

Fragment orthostat relief decoration unknown Neo-Assyrian workshop stone wall-facing slab orthostat relief representation two men shooting bows man foreground holds bow outstretched left hand drawing bent right hand second archer largely obscured first head left side left arm holding drawn bow arrow visible archers wear short-sleeved tunics Heads shown right profile identical beard hairstyle thick beards depicted schematic curls arranged vertical horizontal rows headbands two ends protruding back hair headband combed straight strands forehead falling thick schematic curls nape headband characteristic depictions Elamite soldiers Assyrian art Neo-Assyrian art 7th century BC c 668–c 631 BC reign Ashurbanipal Kuyunjik Southwestern Palace Sennacherib Nineveh Orthostat height 36.5 cm width 37 cm depth 8.4 cm weight 15 kg carved stone relief showing group figures profile rendered shades gray brown black off-white detailed facial hair patterned hair arms hands carved visible striations curved bow shapes stone surface cracks weathered textures variations darker lighter areas smoother rougher patches edges fragment.