Lamassu from the citadel of Sargon II

Lamassu (winged human-headed bulls possibly lamassu or shedu) from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq), Neo-Assyrian, c. 720-705 B.C.E., gypseous alabaster, 4.20 x 4.36 x 0.97 m, excavated by P.-E. Botta 1843-44 (Musée du Louvre) Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker
IN THE NEWS: Irreplaceable Lamassu sculpture, Assyrian architecture and whole archaeological sites have recently been destroyed by militants that control large areas of Iraq and Syria. This tragedy cannot be undone and is an attack on our shared history and cultural heritage. To learn more: February 27, 2015 New York Times article
Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

[@marseilleicon]

It’s amazing how detailed the sculptures are given how old they are y’all. Incredible civilization!

[@zenzeleluckymtshali8433]

hi

[@thewaywardpoet]

These are surprisingly streamlined sculptures. There are elements in the Lamassu that call to mind art deco, especially the wings. They're just magnificent.

[@Joe-lt2pe]

And these were made with bronze age tools. Which makes them even more impressive.

[@christianfrommuslim]

@@Joe-lt2pe Didn't the iron age in the Middle East begin at about 1200 BC?

[@faysal2265]

i cried when i saw the lamassu and the Ishtar gate made me so proud yet feel so sorry at the same time, if these statues where left back in Iraq, they would have been demolished by now

[@navinkumarpk86]

Don't cry any more dear Faysal! The Daesh rats have been destroyed now and your homeland will be great once again!

[@fpsdovah2572]

I pray that it doesn’t happen again now

[@sledgenburger4685]

@@fpsdovah2572 Seems like it will never stop.

[@lindanorris2455]

THANK GOD THEY ARE IN PARIS.

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

such utter nonsense🤦‍♂

[@YumaKim]

smarthistory is the only reason why I got a 5 on the AP test. Thanks!

[@smarthistory-art-history]

Congratulations! That's great to hear.

[@lilripsta911]

it seems as if the Assyrians had a 3D printers back in the day , simply amazing

[@l.-..__l]

Yet most of the knowledge about Assyrians was lost to isis. They tried to wipe us from history.

[@vpmvda]

No 3d printer can top this, not even come close to this perfection. It's wild.

[@abdulkadir24834]

2700 yıl önce suryaniler yoktu

[@babylonkid]

Fantastic video. Thank you so very much for the time and effort and production. Loved it.

[@randecolley7054]

The very best video I have ever watched on one of the most awesome palace of an ancient city

[@luciobrazil007]

i want 2 of these outside my house..

[@M4th3u54ndr4d3]

I am making 2 of these to my house. Not joking.

[@supremereader7614]

Jarl Kilduff that would be so cool! 😅

[@comrade614]

Matheus d'Andrigues let us know how it turns out please !!

[@abramalvarez4]

Matheus d'Andrigues Any updates?

[@Ahmadking69v56]

Come to Iraq we have a lot of thats things 🐸

[@AntonKazmin]

Wow, such a great job from Khan University. This detailed description let me understand the amount of energy used to bring this up to save it from human. Appreciate your work and channel!

[@andyroo9381]

Completely awesome! I am glad they are safe and sound in Paris.

[@ajin1]

A number of them are also intact in Baghdad

[@Ashur-Mesopotamia]

Nearly six million Assyrian Christians dot the world. Mesopotamia is the homeland of the Assyrians. The famous royal cities of the Assyrians, Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Arbela, Dur-Sharrukin and Nineveh were built in it. The Assyrians ruled for approximately 1,300 years - from about 2000 B.C. to 612/10 BC - in northern Mesopotamia an ancient landscape between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. A clear reference to the existence of the Assyrians, on the other hand, can already be found in the Old Testament (1st Book of Moses 2:14). There it says: * “… the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates..."

[@joseeduardotschen9186]

Impressive sculptures!!

[@hendsonyu5167]

Thanks for the explanation of the five legs of lamassu.

[@bruceburns1672]

We can all see why it is far better to have these ancient historical objects in Western Museums as they have a far better chance of survival amongst the unstable Middle Eastern type of governments and the chaos and destruction that eventuates with each civil war .

[@navinkumarpk86]

Thanks to the idiot Bush.

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

@@navinkumarpk86 - destruction of art and sculptures works just fine without Bush, and also, Bush senior attached Irak to get them out of Kuwait, and Bush junior was avenging Saddam Hussein humiliated his father, welcome to the real world and stop dreaming

[@navinkumarpk86]

@@doncarlodivargas5497 I think you need your head checked. First, learn how to type, second go read a history book. Avenging Saddam? What rubbish.

[@muhammadhassankiyani8953]

No, this is our history not yours. You keep your f***ing Greek history stuff in your museum and return us what is rightfully ours. And, yes, ask your government to stop supporting ISIS and other terrorist organizations in our countries.

[@rivaldinasution292]

Sad Fact, but I agree with you.

[@Massiel25.03]

I love so much Iraq 🇮🇶!!!

[@kararfadialkadwy8838]

greetings from iraq .Thank you for feeling 🌷❤ where are you from?

[@Semiramis1992]

_ Who are you, O great? _I'm Lamassu, my dear _Are you from Paris, Lamassu? _No .. I am from Assyria, from Mesopotamia I am from great Iraq _What are you doing here alone? _You have brought me to the stranger My little girl, I miss my country, Mesopotamia Where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are Azimites Where the lavish palaces and celebrations that fill the streets and the victories the country has witnessed I am Assyria and Babylon .. I am Sumer and Akkad I'm Lamassu

[@lindanorris2455]

gorgeoous!

[@KidSto-dj4mc]

جميل

[@troygaspard6732]

It was on my 3rd visit at the Louvre that I discovered the Assyrian guardians. They are huge and fierce looking.

[@herrrob14]

How is this in such good shape? It looks flawless.. Very little sculpture from Classical Greece looks even close to this good and it's newer.

[@TheLonesomeBricoleur]

I saw a side-facing Lamassus from Sargon II's palace just yesterday at a Chicago museum. The info card said that its good condition was mostly due to the statue having tipped over onto its carved face before the wall above collapsed. The excavators still had to piece its 12 pieces back together again, but almost all of the carved details remained intact over the centuries.

[@lindanorris2455]

they are flawless. i have seen them!

[@Iam_aliali]

Excellent video!! Thank you for sharing

[@kangakid5984]

This is a great presentation, thanks

[@Persian-Gulf.]

The persians were heavily influenced by Lamassu and the Assyrian Empire :)

[@assyriancomedycentral1753]

That is true. , Persian empire. Assyrians had built those on Percipeles. For Persians

[@jestfuldemigod]

@@kararfadilalkadwy4342 If you really love your Summerian and Assyrians heritage so much why are you letting them get destroyed by fanatics?

[@BaranLordofLight]

@@jestfuldemigod because we are a minority. We fight, we die.

[@googleuser4203]

@@jestfuldemigod I can't stress enough how flawed your logic/reasoning is.

[@assyriancomedycentral1753]

This is my History! I am Assyrian!!!

[@1234vedas]

great ancestors you have! hey have done a marvellous job, a marvellous civilisation and culture they gave!! my respects for them! Namasthe from India!

[@assyriancomedycentral1753]

saber kolm Namastai thank you!

[@1234vedas]

Lasting Legend May your culture rise back in the beauty it has! May your civilisation come back with its Gods and Goddesses and is old glories! your welcome brother!

[@assyriancomedycentral1753]

saber kolm Thank you :)

[@Uroboro_Djinn]

Beautiful culture. I hope Assyria is restored someday. Greetings from Greece.

[@TreboriRobertHZ]

@ 1:58 .....Are there original relief carvings? where do we find the original relief carvings?

[@purefoldnz3070]

I wonder if they would have been painted.

[@panoramicview698]

Very interesting description 👏👏

[@muscledavis5434]

I love how you guys do videos on art from EVERYWHERE🌍🌎🌏

[@gowanhewlett745]

My favourite duo of presenters......BRAVI

[@genadearagon8977]

The video shows more than two mirrored lamassu flanking an archway in the Louvre. Those face forward, whether seen from front or side. Another is shown exclusively from the side, where the face is turned to the side. So are there three or more lamassu in the Louvre? I suspect the answer is Yes, as the side-facing guardian is pictured next to a bas relief depicting a king holding a lion that is biting his arm, which I know to be in the Louvre. Odd that the video doesn’t acknowledge the side-facing lamassu.

[@KatalinBanoczy]

Very nice video...Thank you...

[@vpmvda]

1:58 - And to we think those workers where all free man?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

You might find this resource of interest: link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-13260-5_2#:~:text=It%20is%20not%20until%20the,given%20as%20pledges%20for%20loans.

[@annabeln478]

Get hyped for the AP guys!!! 1 week!!

[@lindanorris2455]

I ACTUALLY SAW THEM . THE TWINS. THEY TOOK MY BREATH AWAY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IT WAS AWESOME.

[@Southernburrito]

That’s interesting 🧐. I’m reminded & will go back to reflect on the Angels declared to be tied up at the bank of the great river Euphrates in Revelations. Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@eidvinedishou7962]

Proud to be Assyrian

[@Slymball]

This helped a lot with studying. Keep up the good work

[@ABC-po6be]

Question: Can someone tell me the name of the hairstyle depicted on the Lamassu figures? Information about its origin and cultural significance would also be of interest. Thank you.

[@jandrews6254]

Thanks to the British museum, the Louvre and other museums that have restored these precious and stupendous relics, copied them and studied them and saved them from the fundamentalists and their jackhammers and heavy equipment turning them into rubble because they predate a particular time

[@Ulfhednir9]

I thought Lammasu were female and Shedu were the males, or am I wrong?

[@Majnun74]

Amazing!

[@jessehurley8680]

imagine how they created them and how hard it took isis to destroy them with power tools.

[@randecolley7054]

You are so right. My sentiments exactly. What lowly Souls could do that ?

[@Sasha0927]

This was another memorable moment in art-history. It's interesting that we don't know if their bodies are bulls or lions. I guess if the ears and hooves are those of a bull... but I suppose it's not guaranteed. They do make quite the impression either way. I can see myself hesitating as I walked between them, knowing full well there's no harm that could come to me.

[@marioalberto34844]

The feet are those of a bull 1:46

[@WilliamGMalek]

Lamassu, the Assyrian Winged Bulls, My Assyrian ancestors.

[@dhilalfm]

proud To Be Iraqi :)

[@gitana8281]

A Babylonian protective demon called the Lamassu. 👏👏👏👏 That's an excellent find!

[@YuOp-w4h]

يجب ان تعمل حكومه عراقية على اعاده هذا الاثار

[@عليالسراي-ظ9ث5و]

😔😔😔

[@bloodhound1182]

What is the jazz piano music in the into and outro called?? It is absolutely lovely! Can Someone help me find it ?

[@GRosa]

Brendan Morris - The Piano Collection (through Shazam)

[@velvetmaat5851]

One day I'm going to visit

[@TheFrog767]

Stunning

[@aivlyss5720]

Lenyűgöző !

[@richardque4952]

there is a duplicate copy in Chungking,China

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

Is there something that is not copied iin China?

[@أبطالألعراقالعظيم]

It is Mesopotamia, the greatest civilization throughout the ages, the civilization of Iraq has not yet been revealed that it is the city of Babylon, the first city in the world

[@josephshakro7359]

I am assyrian

[@Risa201000]

Um, horns indicated a god...

[@M4th3u54ndr4d3]

Horns indicated power. The double horned crown was a symbol of power. Thats the reason why some kings and some gods were depicted wearing this double horned crown.

[@daniluchison]

I think god would be proper. Power is pointless to denote for god since a god has ‘built in’ powers...

[@MrJustbrowsing12345]

1:15 i thought that the romans invented the arch?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

The Romans are associated with the arch because of their extensive and ambitious use of the form, but they did not invent it.

[@MrJustbrowsing12345]

@@smarthistory-art-history thank you very much for the reply. I must have told dozens of people that romans invented the arch 🤣🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@smarthistory-art-history]

We learn things everyday at Smarthistory too. Thanks for being in touch.

[@carlopro63]

Romans perfectioned and engineered the arch like no one else, but they did not invent it.

[@edsonmakiyi71]

Commentary Duet!!

[@IAM-ye6vy]

WHY THE ASSYRIAN GUARDIAN (LAMASSU) HAS FOUR CHARACTERS? ❤WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THE ASSYRIANS HAD WITH GOD TO BUILD LAMASSU HERE ON EARTH.??? WHICH REPRESENTS. 1-THE HEAD OF THE KING, REPRESENTS DIVINE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE ABOVE ALL MAN KIND. 2- THE BODY OF THE LION, REPRESENTS THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM. 3- THE LEGES OF THE BULL, REPRESENTS THE STRENGTH OF THE ASSYRIAN KINGDOM STANDING. 4- THE WINGS OF THE EGEAL, REPRESENTS THE ASSYRIANS AREMY HOW FAST THEY WERE AT THE WAR AND CONQUER OTHERS. ❤HIS NAME IS "LAMASSU". NOT A WINGED BULL. ❤Revelation 4:6-8 four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’who was, and is, and is to come. MAY THE HOLY GOD BLESS ASSYRIAN THE WORK OF HIS HOLY HANDS, AND BLESS THEIR ROOTS FOREVER AMEN. I COVER THEM WITH THE HOLY BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AMEN.

[@tawergabriel7213]

Nasa Malik this is my first time ever commenting on KZbin in regards to someone else's comment but that is so on point brother I always tell people about that and they still can't see nor understand it..

[@GRosa]

🐂💩

[@haitheory]

Also, in Ezekiel Chapter One the same four creatures are stated to be Ox, Lion, Eagle and Man and this powerful combination was spiritually infused into step walking pulleys used to construct the Pyramids at Giza.. Search "haitheory" for more information.

[@albert.merkael]

It's pronounced aSHSHur not aSSur.

[@Shadowfan1337]

***** Man there is 2 different dialects and both spells the name different, the most common one today is Ashur, but don't neglext the fact it's Assur too

[@albert.merkael]

Shadowfan1337 And I tell you what, I am Assyrian myself and don't tell me how it's pronounced. It's aSHSHur not aSSur. The Greeks don't have SH in their alphabet hence they spelled it with double SS instead of SHSH and from that spelling the rest of world got it wrong.

[@Shadowfan1337]

***** I am an Assyrian too, yes the real name is Ashur but it actually doesn't matter, because the city is more known as Assur than Ashur... but people know that it's the same thing, and Sholomo to you too and happy christmas and new year

[@albert.merkael]

@Paul Olsen No, it's not. When you lack a certain letter in the alphabet that you use, you borrow from another language. That how it works, not by corrupting the entire pronunciation because of lacking of linguistic flexibility.

[@supremereader7614]

Sargon was never as bad as everyone says! 😏

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

The first or the second?

[@mohaamedamer8718]

rhe my city مدينتي

[@BENITOABDULAXISPROPHECY]

babylon wing,s lion,s

[@xtycoon8154]

yeeeeeee

[@LevisH21]

it seems like the bull was a very highly regarded animal by many different ancient civilizations, hence why they worshipped the animal as a sort of diety or sacred offering to a god. ancient Minoans had the bull as a symbol. cows and bulls are seen as sacred animals in India for Hindus. and with the bulls for ancient Assyrians and Babylonians, same story.