Assyrian Collection of the British Museum

The Neo-Assyrian Empire was the last and largest phase of an Assyrian state that endured for nearly 1,300 years, from about 1900 to 609 BCE. Centered on the Tigris River in northern Mesopotamia, Assyrian culture shared its roots with Sumer, Akkad and Babylon. At the height of their power, the Neo-Assyrian kings displayed their might through monumental architecture and art in capitals such as Nimrud and Nineveh. Their throne rooms were guarded by lamassu, winged bulls or lions with human heads standing over 3 meters (11 feet) tall, and their walls were lined with carved reliefs of the king's victories, once richly colored, with long accounts in Akkadian cuneiform. In every scene, religious and royal symbols reminded the viewer of the king's power and authority.

Nearly 2,500 years after the empire's collapse, British-led excavations in the 19th century at sites such as Nimrud and Nineveh rediscovered this long-forgotten civilization, revealing its palaces and helping scholars decipher cuneiform. Many of the sculptures they uncovered are now held at the British Museum, where they continue to inspire visitors and add to our understanding of the shared human past.