Eagle-Headed Genie Relief in the Brooklyn Museum, August 2007

Eagle-Headed Genie
Alabaster
Neo-Assyrian Period, reign of Ashur-nasir-pal II (circa 883-859 BC)
Iraq, Nimrud (Kalhu), from room S of the Northwest Palace
Accession # 55.149

Ancient Assyrians believed that eagle-headed beings with human bodies called apkallu, were endowed by the gods with extraordinary wisdom. Apkallu were thought to have helped build the great cities, and it was believed that they ensured the well-being of the cities' inhabitants. Small, clay eagle-headed figurines have been discovered buried in the walls of Assyrian buildings, probaby to protect against evil.

Text from the Brooklyn Museum label.