Ancient Carvings Found in Iraq when Maskhi Gate Reconstruction
- Aljazeera
VIVA – A new ancient carving - estimated to be 2,700 years old - has been discovered by archaeologists from the United States and Iraq. The discovery was found in the city of Mosul, Iraq, when they attempted to reconstruct the Maskhi gate that destroyed ISIS.
On the surface of the stone were eight carvings showing battles in the ancient city of Nineveh during the reign of the Assyrian kings. The Iraqi Antiquities and Heritage Council explained that the stone carvings date back to the time of King Sennacherib who ruled from 705-681 BCE.
In history, King Sennacherib managed to expand the capital of the Assyrian Empire, Nineveh. Under Sennacherib's rule, Assyria's territory stretched from the Mediterranean to Iran.
The head of the Iraqi archaeological team, Fadel Muhammad Khodr, stated carvings that were probably taken from one of Sennacherib's palaces and then used for gate construction materials.
Ukiran Kuno Iraq
- Aljazeera
"We believe that these carvings were moved from Sennacherib's palace and reused by the grandson of the king to renovate the Mashki gate and to enlarge the guard room," Fadel Muhammad Khodr explained, as quoted from the Aljazeera site.
Khodr explained that the sculpture was not initially discovered because it was covered. He believes that the sculpture will survive because of its buried interior. The discovery and recovery of the sculpture were supported by ALIPH, the Swiss-based International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas.
According to ALIPH, the reason ISIS militants tried to destroy the gate was that it was an iconic part of Mosul and a symbol of the city's long history.
ALIPH is also supporting the restoration of the gate led by a team of archaeologists from the University of Mosul, Iraq, and a team from the University of Pennsylvania, US. The Iraqi Antiquities Authority is also contributing to the reconstruction of the gate to serve as an educational center for the history of Nineveh.
Modern Iraq used to be part of ancient kingdoms, such as the Sumerian and Babylonian Empires. However, many of Iraq's ancient remains are under threat due to the conflicts that have plagued the country.
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