Assryian Art and the Great Hunt

During the 9th century BC, the region from the border of Egypt to the Persian Gulf was controlled by the Assyrians. Like many societies, the Assyrians believed they had to advance their religious beliefs through warfare and conquest. The first people to use iron weapons, they were masterful strategists who mastered the using horse drawn chariots in battle.

Their army was well-trained and relentless, so many foes simply surrendered to the Assyrians without a struggle. Those that did not faced a well-condition military force whose rolling seige towers and battering rams made short work of their opponents.

The Assyrian art on display in museums today suggests that hunting had an important symbolic meaning to the culture. This was especially true in Assyria, evidenced by the dozens of artistic depictions of the Royal Hunt in stone relief. The Royal Hunt was an important ritual that established the Kings domain over brute nature, and demonstrated his courage. By participating in the Royal Hunt, the King added to his own prestige and a heroic reputation. Even though we might expect some exaggeration of the events, the reliefs that have been discovered would suggest a man worthy or rule if he was half as courageous as the reliefs suggest.

Ancient Assyrian art also sheds light on the ceremonial aspects of the Royal Hunt. Assyrian wall reliefs unearthed by archaeologists often display the Assyrian kings giving animals as sacrifices to the sun god Nergal. This Mesopotamian god ruled the underworld and was known as the deity of war and pestilence.

Of all the animals hunted by the king and his royal party, the lion presented the greatest challenge and prestige. From his chariot, the king would bring dow the lion with either or bow or spear. Once the lion was injured the king would dismount his chariot and finish off the lion with his sword. Since the Assyrian art was surely designed to please the king, its unclear just how active a role the king took in stalking and killing his prey.

On display at the British Museum is a relief of Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, who is shown riding a horse with a bow and arrow raised and ready to fire. He is hunting wild donkeys who were considered a blight in those days. The practice of hunting wild asses and thinning the herds was considered a noble, worthwhile pursuit. Ashurbanipal was the last of the great Assyrian kings. He ruled at the height of the Assyrian empire, but twenty years after his death the empire had fallen.

The Assyrian wall reliefs we see today in museums suggest that hunting lions was wildly popular and the lion population was severely impacted. Lions were imported in from other regions and release for the purpose of hunting. This conclusion can be drawn from some Assyrian wall reliefs that show a lion being released from the cage.