Statue of Assur Bel from Hatra

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Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
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published on 04 June 2019
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Statue of Assur Bel from Hatra Download Full Size Image

This limestone statue, now headless, was found in the 5th temple, and probably depicts Assur. On the other hand, some scholars thinks this statue is of Za'im Mu'la. It depicts a male figure wearing full military attire and armor (very similar to Roman military attire). The beard is unusually long and curled, very similar to the neo-Assyrian ones. Shamash, the god of divine justice and the sun, appears on the cuirass. The lower part of the statue is flanked and guarded by two eagles looking forward; their wings are about to spread, reflecting their readiness to attack. Before the legs of the statue, a crowned female goddess sits; she is Taikha, one of the guardian deities of Hatra. She kneels on her left knee joint while the right lower limb is flexed, reflecting her agility.

From Hatra, Ninawa Governorate, Iraq. Parthian period, 1st to 3rd century CE. On display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq.

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

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APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2019, June 04). Statue of Assur Bel from Hatra. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10856/statue-of-assur-bel-from-hatra/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Statue of Assur Bel from Hatra." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified June 04, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10856/statue-of-assur-bel-from-hatra/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Statue of Assur Bel from Hatra." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 04 Jun 2019. Web. 21 Feb 2025.

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