Nimrud The most productive sources of Near Eastern ivories have been
the treasuries of Assyrian kings and officials. The most important finds
of all were made at Nimrud in Iraq, where great numbers of carved ivory
fragments have been excavated: the remains of the booty won by Assyrian
kings in Syria and Phoenicia, and of the fruits of the trade which
`followed the flag', stored in their palace treasuries.
Ancient documents attest the importance of
Nimrud. Founded in either the 13th or 11th century BC, it remained an
important centre until it was destroyed by fire, probably in 612 BC when
Assyrian authority came to an end. Towards the end of the eighth century
BC, Sargon II rebuilt part of the palace and claimed that "the plunder
of cities acquired through the success of my weapons which I hurled
against the foe I shut up therein and filled it to bursting with
luxuries". A few years earlier Tiglath Pileser III (744-727 BC) told in
much greater detail how "All the skilled artisans I shrewdly used to the
best advantage . . From 20 great cubits below the level of the raging
waters of the Tigris I heaped up mighty limestone boulders as the
mountain is heel up... The palaces terrace I constructed, laid their
foundations and raised high their towers. The palaces' doorways, of
ivory, maple, boxwood, mulberry, cedar ... juniper.
The ivory fragments from Nimrud were excavated
in the 1950s and 1960s. Most are carved in the elegant polychrome
Egyptian style associated with Phoenician craftsmen. Few are complete
are parts of larger objects such as beads or incense burners, mirrors or
fans.
The figures wear the double crown of Egypt
and hold ram-headed wands and salute a sacred palmette tree, in a shrine
represented by the winged sun-disc (partially defaced) as lintel and cornice of
uraei. From Fort Shalmaneser.
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