Amherst College Assyrian Reliefs Collection
Abstract
In a letter of 1856, Amherst President Edward Hitchcock noted that the recently-purchased “sculpted slabs” from ancient Nineveh, then on view in the College’s library, were attracting “more attention than any other specimens in our collection.” Acquired for $250 with the assistance of the Reverend Henry Lobdell (AC 1849) a missionary stationed in Mosul, the group of ancient Assyrian reliefs included this depiction of a winged mythological creature shown in the ritual act of pollinating the sacred date palm tree using a pinecone. The cuneiform text inscribed across the figure proclaims the power of Ashurnasirpal, “the Great King, the Mighty King, King of the World, and the Kingdom of Ashur.”
Dates
- 1855 - 1946
Conditions Governing Access
In general, there is no restriction on access to the collection for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted.
Conditions Governing Use
Requests for permission to publish material from the collection should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.
Extent
0.5 Linear feet (1 archives box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into folders by source or creator wherever possible, with topic or genre-based arrangement if origin could not be determined. Folders are arranged chronologically by earliest dated material.
Custodial History
This collection is a small group of material formerly part of the Amherst College Buildings and Grounds Collection (MA.01005). It was separated into its own collection because the material concerns the Assyrian reliefs as objects rather than their location on campus.
- Ashurnasirpal, King of Assyria, II, active 885 B.C.-860 B.C. (Associated name)
- College art museums Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Translating and interpreting Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Amherst College Assyrian Reliefs Collection
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Jennifer Bolmarcich
- Date
- 2020 February
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299
archives@amherst.edu