A joint Iraqi-American archaeological team has uncovered a monumental Late Assyrian stele near the ancient Sun Gate of Nineveh, a discovery experts say is one of the most significant surviving records of an Assyrian monarch.
The stele, unearthed during restoration work at the historic site in Mosul, dates to the seventh century BC and records building projects commissioned by King Ashurbanipal, who ruled the Neo-Assyrian Empire from 668 to 627 BC. Archaeologists say its exceptional size and the historical information carved into its surface make it one of the most important Assyrian royal monuments discovered in recent decades.
Carved from a single block of locally sourced Mosul marble, the monument stands around 2 metres (6.6 feet) high and 1.55 metres (5.1 feet) wide. It features a semi-circular top above a rectangular body.
The front of the stele is dominated by a large relief depicting Ashurbanipal wearing a distinctive bronze helmet. Two smaller reliefs on the reverse are also believed to represent Assyrian kings and are accompanied by an extensive cuneiform inscription.
Although the inscription has yet to be fully deciphered, preliminary translations suggest it documents construction projects undertaken in Nineveh and across the wider Assyrian Empire during Ashurbanipal’s reign.
The discovery was made near the Sun Gate (sometimes called Shamash Gate or Bab Shamash, one of the principal entrances to Nineveh’s formidable defensive walls. On the city’s eastern side, the gate is still in use today as a route for vehicle traffic.
Nineveh, the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, suffered much damage when the Islamic State group occupied Mosul from 2014 to 2017. The city’s ancient walls, along with the Mosul Museum and numerous archaeological sites, were destroyed or damaged.
Following the liberation of Mosul, conservation and restoration efforts resumed across the ancient city. The ongoing work at the Sun Gate, carried out in partnership with the University of Chicago’s Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, led to the discovery of the stele.
Officials have yet to decide where the monument will be permanently displayed. Among the options being considered are exhibiting it near the restored Sun Gate or transferring it to the planned Mosul Civilisation Museum.
Researchers hope further study of the cuneiform inscription will provide new insights into the final decades of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and the extensive building programme that transformed Nineveh during Ashurbanipal’s reign.
Sources : General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage
