Archaeologists from Heidelberg University have uncovered a massive stone relief in the ancient city of Nineveh, modern-day Iraq. The 5.5-meter-wide and 3-meter-tall artwork was found in the North Palace’s throne room and is estimated to weigh 12 tonnes. The discovery features King Assurbanipal alongside Assyrian gods and mythological guardians, marking a major milestone in Near Eastern archaeology. Led by Professor Aaron Schmitt, the excavation team made the find during their ongoing research into the ruins of the former Assyrian capital. The relief, hidden for over two millennia, provides new insight into royal symbolism, religion, and palace design in ancient Mesopotamia.
Monumental Relief Reveals Assyrian King and Gods
The newly found stone slab shows King Assurbanipal standing between the gods Assur and Ištar. These figures were key deities in the Assyrian belief system. The scene also includes protective spirits—a fish figure and a scorpion—often linked to divine strength and cosmic order.
Experts believe a large winged sun disc once hovered above the figures. While that piece is missing, the overall composition remains impressive. Professor Schmitt said, “This is the first time we’ve seen such a direct depiction of Assyrian deities in royal palace art.” The find challenges earlier assumptions about Assyrian religious imagery.
Hidden for Centuries, Missed by 19th-Century Explorers
The slab was found buried in a soil-filled pit under the palace floor. Researchers think it was intentionally hidden during the Hellenistic era, likely in the 3rd or 2nd century BCE. This explains why British teams in the 1800s never found it. They explored the palace thoroughly, but this section remained untouched.
Professor Schmitt believes the burial may have been meant to protect the artwork from damage or looting. “Its hidden state likely saved it from destruction,” he explained. The team continues to study why Hellenistic settlers may have chosen to conceal it—whether out of respect, fear, or religious opposition.
A Glimpse into Nineveh’s Royal and Religious Past
Nineveh once served as the heart of the powerful Assyrian Empire, especially during the reign of King Sanherib in the 8th century BCE. Located near today’s Mosul, the city played a central role in Mesopotamian culture and politics. Its palaces, temples, and libraries made it a hub of art and learning.
The relief was found on Kuyunjik Hill, where King Assurbanipal’s palace once stood. Since 2022, researchers from Heidelberg University have been conducting detailed digs at this site. The project is part of the Heidelberg Nineveh Project, which began in 2018 under Professor Stefan Maul.
Bringing Ancient Art Back to Life
Working with Iraq’s antiquities authority, the team hopes to restore the relief to its original spot inside the palace. They aim to clean and stabilize the slab and eventually make it viewable to the public. This would allow visitors to see the throne room as it might have looked over 2,600 years ago.
“This is not just about history,” Schmitt said. “It’s about bringing a piece of ancient culture back to life in its original home.”
The find also adds to our understanding of Assyrian views on kingship, gods, and cosmic order. Each figure carved into the stone has meaning. Together, they reflect a ruler who claimed divine support and universal power.
Academic Study and Global Interest
The research team plans to publish their full findings in a scholarly journal later this year. Their work is expected to attract global academic attention. It could reshape how historians view Assyrian religious and political art.
Experts also say the discovery may help attract funding and tourism to northern Iraq, where efforts to protect and restore ancient sites have grown in recent years. As new technology and methods improve archaeology, finds like this help piece together lost chapters of human history.
This remarkable discovery in Nineveh brings fresh light to ancient Assyrian art, culture, and religion. As researchers uncover more hidden stories beneath the soil, the past continues to shape our understanding of the present. Stay tuned as the Heidelberg team continues its work in one of the world’s most iconic archaeological sites.