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The Mythical Lamassu
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Posted 2016-02-16 07:37 GMT
Lamassu are human-headed, eagle-winged, bulls or lions that once
protected cities in Mesopotamia. They were believed to be very
powerful creatures, and served both as a clear reminder of the
king's ultimate authority and as symbols of protection for all
people.
The most famous colossal statues of Lamassu have been
excavated at the sites of the Assyrian capitals established by King
Assurnasirpal II (reigned 883 -- 859 BC) and King Sargon II
(reigned 721 -- 705 BC). The winged beasts from Nimrud in Iraq
(the ancient city of Kalhu) also became very famous when
Lamassu there were damaged in 2015. Other statues of the
mythical beasts belong to cities like ancient Dur Sharrukin (current
Khorsabad, Iraq).
Every important city wanted to have Lamassu protect the gateway
to their citadel. At the same time, another winged creature was
The Gate of Nimrud (Metropolitan Museum).
made to keep watch at the throne room entrance. Additionally, they
were the guardians who inspired armies to protect their cities. The Mesopotamians believed that Lamassu frightened away the forces of
chaos and brought peace to their homes. Lamassu in the Akkadian language means "protective spirits."
Celestial Beings
Lamassu frequently appear in Mesopotamian art and mythology. The first recorded Lamassu comes from circa 3,000 BC. Other names
for Lamassu are Lumasi, Alad, and Shedu. Sometimes a Lamassu is portrayed as a female deity, but usually it is presented with a more
masculine head. The female Lamassu were called "apsasu."
Lamassu, as a celestial being, is also identified with Inara, the Hittite-Hurrian goddess of wild animals of the steppe and the daughter of
the Storm-god Teshub. She corresponds with the Greek goddess Artemis.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh and Enuma Elis, both Lamassu and Aspasu (Inara) are symbols of the starry heavens, constellations, and the
zodiac. No matter if they are in a female or male form, Lamassu always represent the parent-stars, constellations, or the zodiac. In the
Epic of Gilgamesh, they were considered as protective because they encompass all life within them.
The cults of Lamassu and Shedu were very common in households from the Sumerian to Babylonian period, and they became
associated with many royal protectors in different cults. Akkadians associated Lamassu with the god Papsukkal (the messenger god),
and the god Isum (a fire-god, herald of the Babylonian gods) with Shedu.
Mythical Guardians that Influenced Christianity
Lamassu were protectors of not only kings and palaces, but of every single human being. People felt safer knowing that their spirits
were close, so Lamassu were engraved on clay tablets, which were then buried under the threshold of a house. A house with a Lamassu
was believed to be a much happier place than one without the mythical creature nearby. Archaeological research shows that it is likely
that Lamassu were important for all the cultures which lived in the land of Mesopotamia and around it.
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Human-headed Assyrian winged bull, otherwise known as a Shedu, from Khorsabad (University of Chicago
Oriental Institute).
As mentioned, the Lamassu motif first appeared in royal palaces at Nimrud, during the reign of Ashurnasirpal II, and disappeared after
the reign of Ashurbanipal who ruled between 668 BC and 627 BC. The reason for the Lamassu's disappearance in buildings is unknown.
Ancient Jewish people were highly influenced by the iconography and symbolism of previous cultures, and also appreciated the
Lamassu. The prophet Ezekiel wrote about Lamassu, describing it as a fantastic being created of aspects of a lion, an eagle, a bull, and
a human. In the early Christian period, the four Gospels were also related to each one of these mythical components.
Furthermore, it is likely that the Lamassu was one of the reasons why people started to use a lion, not only as a symbol of a brave and
strong head of a tribe, but also as a protector.
A Lamassu at the British Museum.
Powerful Monuments
Nowadays, Lamassu are still found standing proud. They were carved from a single block. The oldest monumental sculptures are about
10-14 feet (3.05-4.27 meters) tall and they are made of alabaster. The most recognizable difference between the older Lamassu and the
ones from a later period is the form of their body. The first Lamassu were carved with the body of a lion, but the ones from the palace of
King Sargon II have a body of a bull. What's more interesting-- the Lamassu of Sargon are smiling.
In 713 BC, Sargon founded his capital, Dur Sharrukin. He decided that protective genies would be placed on every side of the seven
gates to act like guardians. Apart from being guardians and impressive decoration, they also served an architectural function, bearing
some of the weight of the arch above them.
Sargon II had an interest in Lamassu. During his reign, many sculptures and monuments of the mythical beasts were created. In this
period, the body of Lamassu had a high relief and the modeling was more marked. The head had the ears of a bull, face of a man with a
beard, and a mouth with a thin mustache.
During the excavations led by Paul Botta, in the beginning of 1843, archaeologists unearthed some of the monuments which were sent
to the Louvre in France. This was perhaps the first time when Europeans saw the mythical creatures.
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Currently, representations of Lamassu are parts of collections in the British Museum in London, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New
York, and The Oriental Institute in Chicago. During the operation of the British army in Iraq and Iran in 1942-1943, the British even
adopted Lamassu as their symbol. Nowadays, the symbol of the Lamassu is on the logo of the United States forces in Iraq.
The motif of Lamassu is still very popular in culture. It appears in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, in the Disney movie Aladdin,
in many computer games, and more.
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