The capital of the ancient Assyrian civilization
The city of Ashur is located on the western bank of the Tigris River, 60 kilometers south of Mosul in northern Iraq. The city was founded in the 25th century BC, becoming the capital of the ancient Assyrian kingdom.
It has flourished for centuries and witnessed many civilizational and cultural achievements. It was characterized by the presence of huge temples and palaces, a developed irrigation system, and a powerful army. The Assyrian Empire controlled vast areas of Mesopotamia, and its empire extended to Egypt and the Levant. The writing of the Assyrians was cuneiform writing, which was written on clay tablets, and its most famous manuscript was the Epic of Gilgamesh, in which the flood was mentioned for the first time. The library of King Ashurbanipal was one of the most famous libraries in the ancient world, as he collected all the tablets in it from various libraries in his country.
The city is famous for its huge palaces and carved monuments.
Winged Bull Lamassu:
Familiar form of Assyrian civilization :
It is the most famous symbol in the Assyrian civilization. These colossal statues were carved over the entrances of Assyrian palaces and temples, to protect the buildings and their inhabitants from evil spirits.
The winged bull Lamassu’s body is strong and muscular, symbolizing strength and courage, and his human head often symbolizes intelligence and wisdom. He wears a crown decorated with bird feathers, and the wings symbolize speed and strength. Inspired by several animals, including the bull, lion, and human. Lamassu figurines are found in different shapes and sizes.
Lamassu statues can be found in many archaeological sites in Iraq, such as: the city of Ashur, the city of Nimrud, and the city of Nineveh.
These sites are an ideal destination to learn about the Assyrian civilization and its culture.
King Assyria (Ashurbanipal)
King of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and the fourth king of the Sargonic dynasty. Ashurbanipal is remembered as the last great king of the Assyrian Empire.
Ashurbanipal’s library is the main reason why important historical texts such as the Epic of Gilgamesh survive to this day.
