About Enemies Crossing the Euphrates to Escape Assyrian Archers, Research Paper Example

Enemies Crossing the Euphrates to Escape Assyrian Archers is currently hosted at the British Museum. It was excavated by archaeologist and scholar Sir Austen Henry Layard in 1846 and is believed to have been created around 878 B.C. This image was carved on a wall made of gypsum alabaster and the extracted carving measures 225 centimeters in width, 88 centimeters in height, and it is 9.5 centimeters thick. Historians believe that this particular wall relief was once used to decorate the home of Ashurnasirpal II, King of Assyria, which is now northern Iraq.

While the function of the piece was to serve partially as decoration, it also served to remind viewers of the king’s war campaign to the city of Suru in Suhi. The enemies quickly retreated in order to save their lives. This relief depicts Assyrian archers adorned in battle gear, attacking the enemy. In the water, three men dressed elegantly stand, demonstrating that they are high born. One man has been killed, and the other two are struggling to survive and are clearly frightened by the king. Although it is difficult to interpret the writing at the bottom of the panel, it is known as King Ashurnasirpal II’s “Standard Inscription” and is found on many pieces commissioned by him. This is how Sir Layard knew immediately upon discovering this wall relief that it belonged to him.

This particular piece required a great deal of artistic skill because it was made purely by carving stone. The images we see were made by carving away material in the background. This reveals that this society was capable of developing strong tools to suit this purpose. Since this piece reflects the king’s written accounts, it is likely that many of the other pieces that once adorned his castle do the same.