GUARDIAN FIGURES AT GATE OF THE CITADEL

Artist:  N/A

Location:  present day Khorsabad, Iraq

Aprox. Date: 721-706 B.C.E.

Medium:  Stone

These were massive figures used to "protect" the gates of the Citadel.  The statues were designed so that no matter what side you were on, it looked like you were looking at the correct side.  Given the head of a man and the body of either a bull or a lion, these lamassus's, as they were called, showed the power and strength of the king. 

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