Relief - Palace Banquets

myminifactory

The most exquisite wines, oils, honey, and fresh fruits were carefully brought to the Assyrian royal table from distant lands to satiate the kings' refined appetites. Extensive records of lavish feasts held in palace halls reveal an abundance of food and drink served at these grand gatherings. These historical accounts detail how various regions boasted exceptional products, each associated with a specific area's distinct quality. This panel is part of a stunning series that adorned the corridor in the South-West Palace at Nineveh. The panels vividly depict attendants carrying baskets overflowing with an assortment of fruits, hares, game birds, and a delicacy of dried locusts secured on rods, likely for a triumphant victory celebration. Here, skilled attendants expertly carry low tables laden with luscious grapes, vibrant pomegranates, and succulent dates. Originating from the South-West Palace in Nineveh, Iraq, this breathtaking panel was meticulously scanned at the 'I Am Ashurbapinal' Exhibition held at The British Museum in London (2019).