Ashurbanipal and His Queen in the Garden

Ashurbanipal was the king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire from 669 BCE to his death in 631. He is often regarded as the final great Assyrian king. Ashurbanipal had one of the longest reigns of any Assyrian kings, ruling for 38 years after being chosen as his father Esarhaddon's preferred heir. Assyrian artwork from the Ancient Near East includes Assurbanipal and His Queen in the Garden. This panel shows a large crowd joyfully assisting and encircling what appears to be a wealthy couple in a garden. Assurbanipal and His Queen in the Garden gives the appearance of a regal, unhurried hero. This clearly demonstrates the sway that era's citizens held over their king.

This low-saturation light brown alabaster panel has serene low relief carvings that don't draw undue attention from the viewer. The panel's block-like characters focus the viewer's attention on the two figures on the right side of the picture and their imposing presence. The lines of the vines that appear to encircle the king and queen draw attention to them. The arrangement of the people themselves does not fill the full panel; rather, it leaves room for the viewer to see the garden in the distance, lending the carved panel a feeling of peace, rest, and relaxation. This artwork exudes relaxation throughout. While the other servants deliver food and drink to the regal couple, a figure in the far left side is playing a harp. The two prominent people appear to be being fanned by at least four of the attendants as they eat and drink. With one foot in front of the other, the servants appear to be moving in the direction of the royal couple. The garden exudes serenity. The palms are lined up as the trees extend out in a beautiful pattern.