Assyrians controlled the lands from the border of Egypt to the Persian gulf during the 9th century BC. The Assyrians identified themselves through warfare and a divine belief in their duty to enforce their gods on the territories they had vanquished. The first society to make use of iron weapons, they were brilliant military strategists who also mastered the art of chariot battle.
Their army was well-trained and relentless, so many foes simply surrendered to the Assyrians without a struggle. Those that did not faced a well-condition military force whose rolling seige towers and battering rams made short work of their opponents.
The Assyrian art found in the world’s museums demonstrates that hunting was an important and symbolic activity. This was certainly true of Assyria where many of the works of Assyrian art depict the Royal Hunt. Hunting and in particular the “Royal Hunt” were important rituals that established the courage of the king and his dominance over beast and nature. The Assyrian king added to his reputation as a warrior by participating in the Royal Hunt. There is certainly exageration in the depiction of these activities, but the reliefs suggest that the kings were generally worthy rulers.
Ancient Assyrian art also sheds light on the ceremonial aspects of the Royal Hunt. Assyrian wall reliefs unearthed by archaeologists often display the Assyrian kings giving animals as sacrifices to the sun god Nergal. Known as the god of war, this Mesopotamian deity also ruled the underworld.
Of all the prey sought out by the King and his royal party, the most prestigious was the lion. Armed with a spear and bow and riding in a chariot, the king would chase the lion and bring him down. When the lion was injured and down, the king would dismount the chariot and finish the lion off with his blade. One must consider the fact that ancient art depicting royalty was meant to please the king, so its not clear just how active a role the king may have played in the hunt.
On display at the British Museum is a wall relief of Ashurbanipal, an Assyrian king, who is depcted riding on horseback with bow rasied. He is hunt targets the wild donkey where were considered a scourge at the time. The practice of hunting wild asses and thinning the herds was considered a noble, worthwhile pursuit. The last great king of Assyria was Ashurbanipal. While he ruled a time of cultural and military dominance, the empire fell into oblivion only a few decades after his death.
Other wall reliefs suggest that the hunting of lions was such a popular sport, that the regional lion population was diminished. Lions were transported from other regions to provide an entertaining and challenging hunt. This conclusion can be drawn from some Assyrian wall reliefs that show a lion being released from the cage.
Tags: ancient art, ashurbanipal, assyrian art, assyrian wall reliefs, mespotamian art