A new exhibition ‘Nineveh: Heart of an Ancient Empire’ opens
this month at The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities
(Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) in Leiden
One of two Assyrian winged bull deities being installed at the exhibition
Two gigantic replica lamassus, Assyrian winged bull deities, are being given the finishing touches as part of the exhibition ‘Nineveh: Heart of an Ancient Empire’ at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) in Leiden. This northern Iraqi city was the world's largest at that time, and the exhibition reunites 250 of Nineveh's top pieces from international museums.
The story of the exhibition covers 9,000 years, from the first settlement to the adventurous archaeological excavations and the recent destruction of the ruins. Visitors will be able to admire dozens of reliefs from Nineveh's palaces, as well as ornaments and a golden death mask.
The original Assyrian bull deities, which are 2,850 years old and come from Nimrud in northern Iraq, can be found at the British Museum in London. The two exact replicas, made by the Spanish company Factum Arte, will be displayed at the exhibition in Leiden, which runs until March 2018.
After the exhibition, the British Museum, the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, and the Factum Foundation will be donating the sculptures to the Ashurbanipal Library Project of the University of Mosul. The university’s own collection was destroyed in 2016 during the war.
Nineveh: Heart of an Ancient Empire
The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden
Showing from: 20 October 2017 - 25 March 2018
For more information CLICK HERE