A Lamassu is a colossal Assyrian protective deity, depicted as a winged bull or lion with a human head, symbolizing intelligence, strength, and freedom, often placed in pairs at palace/city gates as guardians against evil spirits. These massive, hybrid figures from ancient Mesopotamia, like those guarding King Ashurnasirpal II’s palace, are famous for their unique five-legged perspective (standing from the front, striding from the side) and are key artifacts in world museums, representing Mesopo

1.7K views · 43 reactions | Priceless artifacts from the Assyrian Empire were destroyed during the Isis occupation of Mosul. Now, a team of archaeologists is dedicated to finding pieces that survived, including clues to a possible location of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. “Returning to Babylon” premieres Wednesday, October 2 at 10/9c on PBS. | Secrets of the Dead | Facebook