Assyria: Lion Hunts At The British Museum In London United Kingdom Editorial Image

In ancient Assyria, hunting lions was considered the sport of kings, symbolic of the ruling monarch's duty to protect and fight for his people. The sculpted reliefs in Room 10a illustrate the sporting exploits of the last great Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (668–631 BC) and were created for his palace at Nineveh (in modern-day northern Iraq).The hunt scenes, full of tension and realism, rank among the finest achievements of Assyrian Art. They depict the release of the lions, the ensuing chase and subsequent killing. Two of these impressive statues now stand in Room 10c, along with carvings depicting the king and crown prince, royal courtiers and hunting scenes. Inscriptions on display in the gallery come from a similar winged bull from the palace of Sennacherib (704–681 BC) at nearby Nineveh and were badly burnt when the city was destroyed in 612 BC.