A team of German archaeologists from Heidelberg University has uncovered a monumental stone relief in the throne room of the North Palace of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, near Mosul, Iraq. The slab, measuring 5.5 meters long and 3 meters high and weighing 12 tons, depicts the last great Assyrian ruler alongside the deities Ashur and Ishtar, as well as a mythological fish genius. The discovery was announced by Professor Aaron Schmitt, who noted that no other known Assyrian palace reliefs feature major deities, making this find exceptional. The excavation is part of the Heidelberg Nineveh project, ongoing since 2018.
This discovery matters because it provides unprecedented insight into Assyrian religious and political iconography, showing the king in direct divine company—a motif previously unattested in palace reliefs. The find also underscores the enduring archaeological significance of Nineveh, which was a cultural capital of the ancient world and fell in 612 BCE. The relief adds to the legacy of Ashurbanipal, the empire's last great leader, and highlights the continued importance of archaeological work in Iraq, a region rich in ancient heritage but often disrupted by conflict.