page updated November 18, 2014
SCULPTURE  PHOTOGRAPHS  •

Presentation Scenes -- Court Scenes


see also NA5-75 in victory processions
NB: All reliefs are depicted at the same scale and arranged with over-lifesize reliefs first and then followed by the smaller reliefs most likely orginally from typical 3-register panels.

Over-lifesize Reliefs
NA19-76 - courtier

Part of a monumental bas relief (possibly from the building facade) depicting two, beardless, royal arms bearers (with bow, quiver, and mace) facing left. Lower right corner of the relief was also found, but no photo exists.

Excavation notes mention an abraded inscription at the right margin of the slab in 30 lines ending with the last guide line 0.80m above the plinth. The inscription was not copied by the fieldteam (nor were such details of the relief photographed, due to lack of time at the end of the last fieldseason; Sobolewski 1981:263-64).

Date: period of Tiglathpilesar III

Material: not specified

Dimensions: H of figures = 2.75m; W = 2.92m; H of plinth = 0.51m; Th = 0.17m

Provenance: square N0/W30

Inv. # NA19-76

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Part of a relief depicting a wingless genius carrying a pomegranate branch facing right toward the king (partially visible facing left at the right edge of the slab).

The king holds a bow and arrows.

Slab has many holes made by robbers looking for iron. Upper and left edges original.

Lower photo shows a possible join with fragment NA32-75 (suggested by Julian Reade).

Date: probably period of Tiglathpileser III

Material: not specified

Dimensions: H = 1.64m; W = 1.23m; Th = 0.15m

Provenance: square N0/W30 (over the robbed wall in the eastern section)

Inv. # NA43-76

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(bottom and front of relief showing various cuttings;

drawing probably by Richard Sobolewski)

Part of a bas relief (broken into three pieces; top and left side original) depicting an over-lifesize bearded courtier, possibly a whisk bearer.

Could also represent a wingless genius with fillet, dressed in the style of Ashur-nasir-pal II figures.

Date: period of Tiglathpilesar III

Material: Mosul alabaster

Dimensions: H = 2.48m; W = 0.69m; Th = 0.09m

Provenance: square N10/W30

Inv. # NA22-75

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Bas relief depicting King Tiglath-pileser III, wearing a long tunic and tiara, facing left and holding his staff.

Date: period of Tiglathpilesar III

Material: Mosul alabaster

Dimensions: H = 2.03m; W = 0.88m; Th = 0.17m (top, left, and bottom edges are original)

Provenance: square N10/W30 (southern-middle section)

Inv. # NA71-75

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Bas relief depicting a bearded figure facing right with his arm raised (possibly in greeting to the king).

Date: period of Tiglathpilesar III

Material: Mosul alabaster

Dimensions: H = 0.72m; W = 0.84m; Th = 0.10m

Provenance: square N10/W30 (northwest corner)

Inv. # NA54-75

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Lower middle part of a bas relief fragment showing two people moving right, wearing long tunics decorated with fringes and embroidery (unclear whether they wear sandals).

Date: not specified (most likely, period of Tiglathpilesar III)

Material: not specified

Dimensions: total H = 1.15m; W = 0.78m; Th = 0.16m; H of plinth = 0.55m

Provenance: square N10/W30 (near the eastern trench wall, in the SE corner, along with NA3-76, NA5-76, & NA6-76)

Inv. # NA4-76

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Reliefs Possibly from 3-Register Panels

     Likely Upper Register Reliefs






Bas relief depicting several courtiers or officials facing an enthroned king holding a long staff; behind the king are additional courtiers, one holding an umbrella over the king. Above the scene are three symbols of the gods (the leftmost one is defaced).

The front courtier has a beard and two fillets; behind him are a bearded and beardless official. All courtiers wear long tunics embroidered with concentric squares. All have their hands clasped except for the distant courtier who seems to have a hand on a sword.

At the left margin can be seen the hands of other courtiers from the adjacent relief.

This is the upper register of a typical three-register slab; part of the middle register, probably for an inscription, can be seen at the bottom.

This relief matches a presumed-lost relief, as seen in the drawing (left) from Barnett & Falkner (1962:pl.VIII, slab 6a). Possibly part of the Babylonian campaign narrative.

Date: not specified

Material: not specified

Dimensions: H = 1.03m; register H = 0.98m; W = 1.60m; Th = 0.11m; H of upper register alone = 0.98m

Provenance: square N10/W20 (leaning on the destroyed upper part of the wall, surface up, over relief NA6-76; see photo at the left)

Inv. # NA5-76

(hover cursor over photo or plan to zoom; click here to enlarge the relief photo or the context photo or the drawing)


     Likely Lower Register Reliefs
Part of a bas relief depicting the lower part of two figures in long tunics (possibly courtiers) walking to the right.

Includes a portion of the bottom plinth once set into the ground.

Date: not specified

Material: not specified

Dimensions: not specified

Provenance: not specified

Inv. # NA44-76

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NA13-75, officer and courtier

(top, bottom, or side of relief showing various cuttings;

drawing probably by Richard Sobolewski)

Lower right-hand portion of a three-registered bas relief depicting a bearded officer and a beardless courtier facing the king (whose hand and staff can be seen at the left). 

The left-hand portion of this scene (showing the king) is in the Louvre (#19853).

Small portion of the middle register, probably for an inscription, can be seen in the upper right.

Date: period of Tiglathpilesar III

Material: Mosul alabaster

Dimensions: H = 1.21m; W = 0.90m; Th = 0.10m; H of lower register = 0.92m; H of plinth = 0.27m

Provenance: square N10/W30, SE corner, along with bowl N12-75

Inv. # NA13-75

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Fragment the upper part of a lower register of a bas relief probably depicting the head of a eunuch facing left.

Date: period of Tiglathpilesar III

Material: Mosul alabaster

Dimensions: H = 0.52m; W = 0.43m; Th = 0.10m (left and upper edges sawn off)

Provenance: square N10/W30

Inv. # NA36-75

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     Reliefs of Unclear Location

Part of a bas relief depicting the central part of a royal attendant facing right (left edge original).

Figure's robe is similar to those worn by eunuchs depicted on reliefs of Ashur-nasir-pal II, with fringe and belt carved with concentric rectangles.

Date: not specified

Material: Mosul alabaster

Dimensions: H = 0.51m; W = 0.60m; Th = 0.11m

Provenance: secondary fill, square N10/W30

Inv. # NA1-75

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(top or bottom of relief showing various cuttings;

drawing probably by Richard Sobolewski)

Bas relief fragment depicting a bearded king (facing right) on his throne with his feet on a footstool; he wears a tiara and long tunic and holds a long staff and plant (?).

Behind the king are traces of a standing figure in a long tunic, facing right; possibly a whisk bearer.

Bottom and right edges sawn off; top and left edges could be original, but it is unclear; surface eroded.

Date: period of Tiglathpilesar III

Material: limestone (?)

Dimensions: H = 0.92m; W = 0.58m; Th = 0.13m

Provenance: square N10/W30

Inv. # NA10-75

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Fragment of a bas relief (right-hand edge original) depicting a bearded royal attendant facing right, possibly in a procession scene, carrying a sword and clasping hands.

Date: period of Tiglathpilesar III

Material: Mosul alabaster

Dimensions: H = 0.35m; W = 0.38m; Th = 0.13m

Provenance: square N10/W30

Inv. # NA34-75

(hover cursor over photo or plan to zoom; click here to enlarge the photo)


 
Part of a bas relief depicting a herald (standing and facing right) and a defeated enemy (kneeling with arms raised; possibly wearing a helmet) before the king (standing and facing left, holding his staff in his right hand and wearing a long tunic and tiara). It appears as if the king is placing the end of his staff on the head of the enemy figure.

Date: not specified

Material: Mosul alabaster

Dimensions: H = 0.94m; W = 1.11m; Th = 0.11m (upper and left edges original)

Provenance: square N0/W30

Inv. # NA75-75

(hover cursor over photo or plan to zoom; click here to enlarge the photo)

 
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Reference Information

page created:  Nov. 13, 2002
page updated:  November 18, 2014
page author:  Learning Sites, Inc.
page URL:  http://www.learningsites.com/CPalace_Nimrud/CP_html-pgs/CPalace_photos_html/CPalace_photos-sculpture_presentations-court.html
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