Gate Guardian from Ashurnasirpal 2nd's Palace at Nimrud

I missed posting this picture from the Bristish Museum post last week. This is one of my favourite treasures from the museum.

I can just imagine these 2 enormous statues flanking the huge wooden gates of the palace at Nimrud. This was an ancient Assyrian city south of Nineveh, near modern day Mosul, Iraq. There's nothing like being able to gawp at close range to really bring history alive.

A C9th BC statue from Ashurnasirpal 2nd's palace at Nimrud.

Kids love that these statues have 5 legs.{g}