Text-image Iconicity in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace
Among the most celebrated archaeological discoveries and the most debated expressions of Assyrian art is the bas-relief that stood behind the throne in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace in Nimrud. Most attempts to interpret the panel have focused on specific elements of its iconography, particula...
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Ksiegarnia Akademicka Publishing
2024-12-01
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Series: | Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization |
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Online Access: | https://journals.akademicka.pl/saac/article/view/6299 |
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author | Robin Baker |
author_facet | Robin Baker |
author_sort | Robin Baker |
collection | DOAJ |
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Among the most celebrated archaeological discoveries and the most debated expressions of Assyrian art is the bas-relief that stood behind the throne in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace in Nimrud. Most attempts to interpret the panel have focused on specific elements of its iconography, particularly the tree and the figure in the winged disk above it. Many scholars have sought to decipher the image by comparing it with series of panels from elsewhere in the palace. Some studies have also explored the relief’s relationship to its inscription. Despite the extensive literature on the artifact, its meaning has remained elusive. This study approaches the conundrum from a different angle. It considers the relief’s text-image iconicity through the lens of Assurnasirpal’s theology, since both express theological conceptions. It investigates the theological relationship between the image and the placement of the cuneiform signs carved on it, thereby shedding light on the meaning of the imagery.
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format | Article |
id | doaj-art-d055c62b3a824d8c89a6c6fe2813c978 |
institution | Kabale University |
issn | 1899-1548 2449-867X |
language | English |
publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
publisher | Ksiegarnia Akademicka Publishing |
record_format | Article |
series | Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization |
spelling | doaj-art-d055c62b3a824d8c89a6c6fe2813c9782025-02-07T15:52:00ZengKsiegarnia Akademicka PublishingStudies in Ancient Art and Civilization1899-15482449-867X2024-12-012810.12797/SAAC.28.2024.28.05Text-image Iconicity in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest PalaceRobin Baker0University of Winchester, UK Among the most celebrated archaeological discoveries and the most debated expressions of Assyrian art is the bas-relief that stood behind the throne in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace in Nimrud. Most attempts to interpret the panel have focused on specific elements of its iconography, particularly the tree and the figure in the winged disk above it. Many scholars have sought to decipher the image by comparing it with series of panels from elsewhere in the palace. Some studies have also explored the relief’s relationship to its inscription. Despite the extensive literature on the artifact, its meaning has remained elusive. This study approaches the conundrum from a different angle. It considers the relief’s text-image iconicity through the lens of Assurnasirpal’s theology, since both express theological conceptions. It investigates the theological relationship between the image and the placement of the cuneiform signs carved on it, thereby shedding light on the meaning of the imagery. https://journals.akademicka.pl/saac/article/view/6299Assyrian artAssyrian religionapkalluthe god AššurNimrud/Kalhuname as destiny |
spellingShingle | Robin Baker Text-image Iconicity in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization Assyrian art Assyrian religion apkallu the god Aššur Nimrud/Kalhu name as destiny |
title | Text-image Iconicity in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace |
title_full | Text-image Iconicity in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace |
title_fullStr | Text-image Iconicity in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace |
title_full_unstemmed | Text-image Iconicity in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace |
title_short | Text-image Iconicity in Assurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace |
title_sort | text image iconicity in assurnasirpal ii s northwest palace |
topic | Assyrian art Assyrian religion apkallu the god Aššur Nimrud/Kalhu name as destiny |
url | https://journals.akademicka.pl/saac/article/view/6299 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT robinbaker textimageiconicityinassurnasirpaliisnorthwestpalace |