In the Assyrian Transept, adjoining the south Egyptian Gallery on the south, begin the Assyrian and Babylonian Collections, which occupy also the galleries parallel with the Egyptian Galleries and two rooms on the first floor.
The Assyrians were originally of the same race as the Babylonians, but became independent about 1700 B.C., and by wars of conquest created a great empire, including Lower Egypt and Palestine, which was overthrown in 539 B.C. through the capture of Babylon by Cyrus from Belshazzar. They were pre-eminently astronomers and astrologers, but their art attained considerable skill and dignity in decorative relief.
Assyrian Transept. East side: Bas-reliefs, colossal human headed bulls (which flanked a doorway), and other figures excavated in the palace of Sargon, father of Sennacherib, at Khorsabad (722-705 B.C.). West side: Slab bearing the figure of a king and mythological symbols in relief, and inscribed with the conquests of Ashur-nasir-pal; two colossal winged and human-headed lions from Ashur-nasir-pal's palace (885-860 B.C.) at Calah (the modern Nimroud).
The Nimroud Gallery contains some of the smaller sculptures, etc., from Calah. On the west side are reliefs showing Ashur-nasir-pal's victories and hunting triumphs; the figure in a winged circle above the king is his protecting spirit (Ashur ?). On the north and east sides appear deities, foreigners bringing tribute (apes in No. 19), the king in state (20-26), a lion-hunt (36), and scenes of worship (37-41). In the middle, Statue of Ashur-nasir-pal. The doorway on the north, flanked by a winged bull and lion with human heads, leads to the Nimroud Central Saloon, with further sculptures from Calah. 849. Black basalt seated figure of Shalmaneser II.; 98. Black obelisk, sculptured with reliefs and inscriptions recording Shalmaneser's triumphs (among the kings paying tribute is Jehu, King of Israel). The reliefs on the west wall (80-95) depict Shalmaneser's wars; on the north-east side, Evacuation of the town of Azkuttu and triumph of Tiglath-Pileser III. The entrance (North) to the Nineveh Gallery is flanked by a colossal winged lion and the head of a man-headed bull.
