Question

gift of benjamin brewster, 1884. the metropolitan museum of art.

check all that apply

• assyrian
• divine status shown by horned cap
• ishtar gate
• human-headed winged beast
• lion hunt portrayed
• sumerian

Explanation:

Identify the artwork

Using the Lamassu and Assyrian Art knowledge points, we recognize this relief sculpture as representing a Lamassu (a protective deity). It is a human-headed winged bull or lion from the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud (ancient Kalhu).

Analyze the cultural origin

Using the Ancient Near Eastern Art and Assyrian Art knowledge points, this relief is a classic example of Assyrian art from the Neo-Assyrian Empire (9th century BCE), not Sumerian.

Evaluate visual characteristics

Using the Lamassu knowledge point, we observe the following features:

• It is a human-headed winged beast (specifically a winged bull or lion).
• The figure wears a multi-horned headdress, which is a traditional Mesopotamian symbol indicating divine status shown by horned cap.
• It does not depict a lion hunt, nor is it associated with the Neo-Babylonian Ishtar Gate.

Answer:

• Assyrian (Correct answer)
• divine status shown by horned cap (Correct answer)
• Ishtar Gate
• human-headed winged beast (Correct answer)
• lion hunt portrayed
• Sumerian