Relief of wounded Lioness. 87 x 47 cm.

Description

Relief of Wounded Lioness. High-quality bas-relief made of molded marble (marble powder agglomerated with synthetic resin). Finished with aging patinas based on natural earth, giving it the texture and appearance of an ancient sculpture embellished by the passage of time.

Measurements: Width: 87 cm. Height: 47 cm.

Reproductions of sculptures and reliefs, inspired by original pieces from museums. Mesopotamian Art. Handcrafted in Spain. Ideal for interior decoration (living rooms, lobbies, libraries, and offices). Suitable for outdoor use, terraces, and gardens, resistant to harsh weather conditions.

Relief of Wounded Lioness. It is a reproduction of a fragment from the bas-relief called “Assurbanipal Hunting Lions,” which adorned the palace of Assurbanipal in the city of Nineveh (modern-day Iraq). It is dated between 668 and 626 BC and is housed in the British Museum in London.

The most famous work in the magnificent series of Assurbanipal’s hunts is the Wounded Lioness. Three arrows are lodged in her body, and one of them appears to have broken her spine, tearing muscles and tendons, so that the hind legs have been immobilized. But the beast crawls in fury, only with the great effort of its front limbs. The harmony of lines and meticulousness of details in the original low reliefs, and the mastery in representing the anatomy and movement of animals make these reliefs authentic masterpieces that reveal the artistic skill and technical ability of the Assyrian sculptors.

The Assyrian Empire was one of the powers that dominated ancient Mesopotamia between the 9th and 7th centuries BC. Assyria was ruled by powerful kings like King Assurbanipal (669-630 B.C.), known in the Greco-Roman world as Sardanapalus. This monarch was characterized on one hand by his military ferocity, and on the other, by his interest in arts and culture, as reflected in the royal library in Nineveh, one of the largest in the ancient world. During his reign, the Assyrian Empire expanded to its maximum extent, spanning from Egypt to Persia.