Assyrian Palace Guard Bookends - Mesopotamian Sculpture

These bookends are a gift of art that remind us of the evanescent nature of human power. They are a fine representation of Mesopotamian statuary: the colossal stone statues and reliefs that embellished the façades of ancient Assyrian temples and palaces. The Assyrian Empire is regarded as the greatest of the Mesopotamian empires. It grew from humble beginnings. According to the Biblical account in Genesis, the city of Ashur from which the empire rose, was founded by a grandson of Noah’s named Ashur. What is more likely is that the city was named after the deity, Ashur. Starting from Mesopotamia (now Iraq), the empire expanded to include modern day Turkey, parts of Egypt, and Persia. Its history is usually divided into three periods: The Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the Late or Neo-Assyrian Empire.During the Late Empire, a great king bearing, significantly, the name of Ashurbanipal (668 – 627 BCE) came to the throne. He is noted for his scholarship and the vast library he erecte