Khorsabad Gateway

🇬🇧 One of the most striking pieces in the British Museum’s collection is the colossal pair of human-headed winged bulls, known as lamassu, from the gateway of Khorsabad, Iraq. Sculpted around 710 BC during the reign of Sargon II, these magnificent statues once stood as guardians at the entrance of Dur-Sharrukin, Sargon’s capital city. Their presence was more than just symbolic; they were believed to ward off evil spirits and protect the city.

Each lamassu is a powerful combination of man, bull, and eagle—creatures associated with strength, protection, and divine authority in Assyrian culture. The human head symbolizes wisdom, the bull’s body represents power, and the wings embody the swiftness of an eagle. Intricately carved, they seem to watch over the gateway with both serenity and authority.

Today, these ancient masterpieces stand in the British Museum, offering visitors a tangible connection to the grandeur of Assyrian civilization. The sheer scale of the sculptures—each weighing several tons—conveys a sense of awe, making them one of the museum’s most iconic and admired exhibits. Whether you’re drawn to their mythic symbolism or the skill of their craftsmanship, the Khorsabad Gateway’s lamassu continue to captivate modern viewers as they did thousands of years ago.

🇫🇷 Paire de taureaux ailés sculptés à la tête humaine de la porte de Khorsabad, aujourd’hui en Irak. Sculpté vers 710 av. J.-C., sous le règne de Sargon II, ce couple colossal était destiné à empêcher les mauvais esprits d’entrer dans la ville. Ceux-ci sont maintenant exposés au British Museum de Londres.

The gateway of the Palace of Tiglath-Pileser III at Nimrud

زوج من الثيران المجنحة المنحوتة مع الرأس البشري لبوابة خورسباد، اليوم في العراق. منحوت حوالي عام 710 قبل الميلاد. في عهد سرجون الثاني، كان الهدف من هذين الزوجين الهائلين منع الأرواح الشريرة من دخول المدينة. هذه معروضة الآن في المتحف البريطاني في لندن.

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