DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Archaeologists discover rare 2,600-year-old stele of Assyrian king in Iraq's Nineveh

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Archaeologists discovered a rare 2,600-year-old stele fragment of Assyrian King Ashurbanipal in Iraq's Nineveh province.
  • The stele features a high-relief sculpture of Ashurbanipal and cuneiform inscriptions detailing his achievements.
  • The discovery highlights the antiquity and civilizational depth of Nineveh, reinforcing Iraq's historical and cultural significance.

A joint Iraqi-American archaeological mission has unearthed a rare fragment of an ancient stele dating back 2,600 years to the reign of Assyrian King Ashurbanipal. The discovery was made at the Bab Shamash archaeological site in Iraq’s Nineveh province.

The discovery reflect the antiquity and civilizational depth of the city of Nineveh, as one of the most prominent historical centers in Iraq and the region.

— Ali Obaid ShalghamPresident of Iraq's Antiquities and Heritage State Board, commenting on the significance of the stele discovery.

The stele, measuring two meters high and 1.55 meters wide, prominently displays a high-relief sculpture of Ashurbanipal on its front. Its reverse side features two smaller reliefs of unnamed Assyrian kings, alongside cuneiform inscriptions. These inscriptions are believed to document the king's architectural projects and accomplishments throughout the ancient city of Nineveh and the wider Neo-Assyrian Empire, which had Nineveh as its capital and largest city.

continuation of archaeological work in uncovering more evidence documenting the history of Mesopotamian civilization, highlighting its civilizational depth and human contributions, thereby strengthening its presence on the global cultural and civilizational stage.

— Ali Obaid ShalghamFurther elaborating on the importance of the find for understanding Mesopotamian history.

Ashurbanipal is historically remembered for establishing the Library of Ashurbanipal, which contained over 100,000 texts, making it the largest collection of its kind until the Library of Alexandria was built centuries later. Over 30,000 cuneiform texts from this ancient library have survived, offering crucial insights into the life and culture of ancient Mesopotamia.

the grandeur of Assyrian civilization and its urban development.

— Ruwaid MuwaffaqNineveh Antiquities and Heritage Inspector, highlighting the stele's importance in showcasing Assyrian achievements.

The discovered stele fragment has been transferred to the Inspectorate’s headquarters for initial restoration work, enabling in-depth study. Officials emphasized the discovery's significance in reflecting the antiquity and civilizational depth of Nineveh, a major historical center in Iraq and the region. They also noted it underscores the ongoing archaeological efforts to uncover more evidence of Mesopotamian civilization, thereby strengthening its global cultural presence.

reinforces the archaeological evidence indicating that many of the city's gates and historical sites contain royal tombstones and significant architectural achievements.

— Ruwaid MuwaffaqExplaining how the stele contributes to understanding Nineveh's historical sites.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog