Bull of Nimrud replica goes back to the Iraq’s Basrah Museum. This statue once stood at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO and the Roman Colosseum. The monument, a gift from the Italian government, now stands indefinitely outside the Basrah Museum. ISIS militants demolished the initial sculpture in 2015.
Bull of Nimrud Origins
The “Bull of Nimrud” refers to a famous Assyrian sculpture depicting a winged bull with a human head. It originated in the ancient city of Nimrud, located in the present-day Iraq. The sculpture also has another name – lamassu. This is a protective deity often depicted in the Assyarian and Sumerian art. This piece is also part of the larger tradition of protective figures in ancient Mesopotamian culture.
These figures often adored entrances of ancient buildings, such as palaces and temples. The goal was to ward off evil spirits and protect the inhabitants. The sculpture typically features a body of a bull with wings and a human head, symbolising strength, power, and protection. Many recognise the sculpture in question because of its detailing and craftsmanship. It reflects the artistic and technical prowess of the Azyrian civilisation.
It dates back to the 9th century BC. Also, it measured more than 16 feet. Three-dimensional printing technology was used to create the replica. “Italy is at the forefront of safeguarding cultural heritage because it is the soul of a nation and embodies its history”, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy’s culture minister said. There was a formal opening ceremony held this past Tuesday at the museum, witnessed by Italian and Iraqi authorities.
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Creating the Duplicate
“It will therefore continue to make every effort to advance international collaboration in the field of cultural heritage protection and to work for the enhancement of the heritage of humanity”, the minister also added. Ashurnasirpal II, the Assyrian king, selected the ancient city of Nimrud, which is close to present-day Mosul, to be the capital (883–859 BCE). This piece was one of the several cultural items that ISIS damaged during their 2015 attack on the ancient site.
A group of professionals lead by restoration expert Nicola Salvioli created the duplicate. He used pictures and video recordings to create a polystyrene model of the creature. Later, a larger fibreglass copy went up utilising a 3D printer, using that model as the base. After the procedure finished, the monument received a finish to provide it the look of veracity using a mixture of stone dust and plastic.
The gift comes on the heels of a high-profile restitution in June of last year from Italy to Iraq of a tablet engraved with cuneiform text and the insignia of the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III. According to prior reports, “the circumstances surrounding the tablet’s arrival in Italy remain unclear”.
