Arslan Tash reliefs

The Arslan Tash reliefs are bas-reliefs of human figures and animals which adorned the city gates and temple portals of ancient Hadatu; the modern archeological site of Arslan Tash, literally "the Stone Lion".[1] (Turkish; Arslan - Lion, Taş - Stone)

The bas-reliefs may have been carved by different artists in different periods, but an inscription carved across the body of one bull dates the inscription to the reign of Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727BCE) however artistic considerations suggest the conclusion that the reliefs were originally carved some time between the reigns of Shalmaneser III (858-824BCE) and Sargon II (721-705BCE).[2]

In February 2015, in the Syrian city of Ar-Raqqah, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) publicly ordered the bulldozing of a colossal ancient Assyrian gateway lion sculpture from the 8th century BC.[3] Another lion statue was also destroyed. Both statues originated from the Arslan Tash archaeological site.[4] The destruction was published in the ISIL magazine, Dabiq.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Albenda, Pauline The Gateway and Portal Stone Reliefs from Arslan Tash 1988
  2. ↑ Albenda, p.5
  3. ↑ "Threats to Cultural Heritage in Iraq and Syria". US Department of State. September 23, 2014. Retrieved 27 Feb 2015.
  4. ↑ "Lion statues destroyed". UNESCO. Retrieved 27 Feb 2015.
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