Grasping an antelope by its horns, and supporting a monkey and a leopard skin on his shoulders, this 5.3-inch-tall ivory figurine from Nimrud, on the Tigris River in northern Iraq, most likely represents a Nubian tribute-bearer. It is carved in the so-called Phoenician style that flourished during the eighth and seventh centuries B.C. The figure’s straight-backed pose—with both feet pointing to his left—and his kilt-like garment are reminiscent of many Egyptian artworks. The Nubian figure was discovered in 1960 at Fort Shalmaneser, a palace for reviewing troops built in the southeast corner of the Nimrud site by King Shalmaneser […]
