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Arslan Tash reliefs

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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 (745-727 BC) however artistic considerations suggest the conclusion that the reliefs were originally carved sometime between the reigns of Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) and Sargon II (721-705 BC).[2]

In February 2015, in the Syrian city of Raqqa, 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

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References

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  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.