An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Saluting Protective Spirit883–859 BCE
Striding forward with muscular arms and legs, this winged deity offers a gesture of salutation along with symbols of agricultural bounty. Inscribed with an account of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II's military conquests and victories, this relief once stood alongside hundreds of similar ones that decorated the palace at Nimrud.
The details of his garments are painstakingly rendered; he wears a long fringed cloak with tassels over a shorter kilt and an under tunic.
gypsum
Overall: 229.9 x 137 cm (90 1/2 x 53 15/16 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Amidst the ancient stones of Nimrud, where echoes of the past linger in the air, a magnificent winged deity strides forward, his presence powerful and commanding. Muscular arms and legs propel him through time, as if he is taking a step out of history itself. His outstretched hand offers a graceful gesture of salutation, a welcoming embrace to all who approach.
Around him, symbols of agricultural bounty flourish—the fruits of labor and peace that nourished a thriving civilization. However, this divine figure is not solely a harbinger of goodwill; he carries with him the weight of stories untold, stories captured within the carved inscriptions that detail the illustrious military conquests and victories of Ashurnasirpal II, a mighty Assyrian king.
Once, in the grandeur of the royal palace, these reliefs adorned the walls, telling a tale of triumph and dominance. Hundreds of them stood like loyal sentinels, witnessing the rise of a king whose ambitions knew no bounds. The air would have been thick with the sounds of celebrations, the scent of rich feasts lingering long after banners were lowered.
In this serene moment of reflection, one can almost hear the whispers of the past, the clash of swords, and the rallying cries of warriors. The winged deity, steadfast and proud, continues to gaze into eternity, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit and the stories that connect us all across the ages.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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