Neo-Assyrian King as a Hunter

The theme of hunting mainly lions and bulls (as seen in the reliefs of the throne room of Ashurnasirpal II in Nimrud), constitutes not only one of the most widespread figurative subjects in Assyrian art, but also recalls the other prerogative of the Assyrian sovereign: alongside his function as a warrior, he is also a hunter, in direct association between the killing of enemies and the killing of lions. This connection is recalled by the Assyrian sources themselves: starting from the Middle Assyrian age (12th century BC), the inscriptions celebrating the deeds of the Assyrian kings combine the description of military successes with the heroic action of the sovereign in facing dangerous and wild animals.