What Are The Lamassu?
The Lamassu are ancient deities of Assyrian culture that are depicted as giant winged bulls; these were extremely prevalent in the Assyrian Empire. The creature had the combined body of a bull, wings of an eagle, and the head of a human. The symbolism for these different body parts are as follows:
Bull body: Strength and Perseverance
Eagle Wings: Swiftness and Freedom
Human Head: Intelligence and Wisdom
The Lamassu were meant to embody the ideal aspects of a guardian. As a result, colossal statues of these creatures would often be placed in front of palaces or city gates. Aside from artistic purposes, these statues were also meant to ward off evil and protect the Assyrian kingdom.
Origin of the Lamassu
Lamassu have been seen mostly in ancient Assyrian art, but were originally rooted within Babylonian traditions and culture. They were mostly described as protective spirits and were also placed as figures who could repel chaos. Some of the earliest references of these mythological creatues date back to over 4000 years ago!
Where Are They Now?
As we know already, the Lamassu were originally found at the gates of ancient Assyrian cities. Many of these statues were found in the ruins of what is now Northern Iraq. After being discovered, many statues were sent to lots of museums around the world, such as the British Museum, the Louvre, etc. However, there are still statues of Lamassu in Iraq that are located in local museums, and ones partially buried in ruins. Many were damaged by conflict and recent wars unfortunately.
Why Are They Significant?
Lamassu are not only important for mythological pruposes, but they were also important because they showed what ancient people valued. This is due to the Lamassu’s combination of strength, wisdom, and freedom, symbolizing the traits that Assyrians admired the most. They’re also important because they are overall just masterpieces of art. Some Lamassu can range over ten feet tall and weigh many tons, and the statues also create an illusion where they look still from the front, but seem to be walking from the side.
Conclusion:
I hope that you’ve learned more about ancient Assyrian culture and understand the meaning behind the Lamassu. I highly recommend visiting the museums listed above to go visit these statues. It’s mindbreaking how colossal and majestic these statues are in person!
Title Image: Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
Second Image: Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay