Battle Scene of Assyrians Storming a Citadel in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, August 2007

Battle scene of Assyrians storming a citadel
Alabaster (gypsum)
Mesopotamia, excavated at Nineveh, Southwest Palace of Sennacherib
Neo-Assyrian period, 704-681 BC

Accession # 55.121.4a, b

In a lively and dramatic display of Assyrian power over enemies, this relief depicts an assault on a strongly fortified citadel and the taking of prisoners. The most dramatic siege scene from the time of Sennacherib is the battle of Lachish (modern Tell Duweir), now in the British Museum, London.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.