Once the crown jewel of the ancient Assyrian empire, the archaeological site was ravaged by Islamic State (IS) fighters after they seized large areas of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in 2014.

The great stone figures that today grace the Assyrian Gallery of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art were carved more than 2500 years ago for the palaces and temples of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 B.C.), ...

With hooved feet and a winged body, the "massive 2,700-year-old" statue was said to depict an "Assyrian Deity that was excavated in Iraq" in 2023. The winged bull figure is lamassu, a likeness ...

Despite its hostile geography, rebellious vassals, and the constant pressure from the Assyrian Empire, the Urartians managed to survive and thrive. Against more powerful enemies like Assyria, the ...