Artwork

Relief showing Gilgamesh suffocating the lion from Palace of Khorsabad, period of Sargon II (722-795 B.C.)

Relief showing Gilgamesh suffocating the lion from Palace of Khorsabad, period of Sargon II (722-795 B.C.) is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The image is a black‑and‑white photograph of a stone relief that once adorned the walls of the palace at Khorsabad, the capital built by Sargon II in the late eighth century BCE. The relief captures a dramatic encounter between a human figure and a lion, rendered in the deep shadows and highlights characteristic of early archaeological photography.

Subject & Meaning

At the center of the composition a bearded man, possibly a royal or heroic figure, clutches a lion by its neck while the animal’s limbs hang limp. The man's stern expression and the aggressive pose convey dominance over chaos, a theme common in Assyrian royal propaganda that emphasized the king’s power to subdue dangerous forces.

Technique & Style

Carved in high relief from limestone, the scene employs deep incision to accentuate the muscular forms of both man and beast. The stylized anatomy, exaggerated gestures, and hierarchical scaling reflect the Assyrian artistic canon, where narrative clarity and symbolic force outweigh naturalistic detail.

History & Provenance

The relief originates from the palace complex of Khorsabad, constructed under Sargon II between 722 and 705 BCE. The surviving fragment was photographed in the 1880s by an unidentified photographer, likely during early excavations that brought Assyrian art to European collections. The print bears period markings and handwritten notes indicating its archival use.

Context

Assyrian palaces were richly decorated with narrative reliefs that celebrated military victories and divine favor. This particular scene would have been displayed in a public or ceremonial space, reinforcing the king’s role as protector and conqueror within the empire’s ideological framework.