12. Sargon II

This brick refers to the Assyrian King Sargon II who reigned from 721 to 705 BC. It is inscribed in cuneiform text and is located in the Oriental Institute Museum at the University of Chicago. The brick was found in the ancient Assyrian city of Khorsabad during excavations that took place from 1929 to 1935. Sargon is also referred to in the Bible in Isaiah 20:1. Click "Read more" below to see a giant lammasu, the winged bull deity from ancient Assyria.

PHOTO: © Michael J. Caba

Forty ton lammasu from the palace of Sargon II in Khorsabad, Assyria.
Now located in Oriental Institute Museum at the University of Chicago.


A different view of the same lammasu pictured above showing typical five leg format.  

 PHOTOS: © Michael J. Caba