Expert Suggests 2700-Year-Old Lamassu Statue Was Reburied Due to Political Instability

The discovery of a 2700-year-old Lamassu statue in Northern Iraq has piqued the interest of historians and archaeologists worldwide, revealing as much about the region's ancient past as its more recent history. June Ishtar Jako, a Sydney-based academic with a master's degree in research from Macquarie University, has offered a compelling narrative surrounding the statue's excavation and preservation, particularly in light of Iraq's political challenges over the past few decades.

The Lamassu, an iconic deity of Mesopotamian mythology, typically depicted with a human head, the wings of an eagle, and the body of a bull or lion, was believed to serve as a guardian to cities. The recently unearthed alabaster statue, according to Pascal Butterlin, leader of the French excavation team, would have stood at the gates of the ancient city of Khorsabad during the reign of King Sargon II.

Jako's insights, however, suggest that the Lamassu's body was not a new discovery but rather a rediscovery. The head of this monumental statue was reportedly excavated back in 1993 but had to be reburied to safeguard it against the looting and destruction that ensued during periods of turmoil, including during Saddam Hussein's regime. The head was nearly smuggled out of the country but was recovered at the border with Syria and subsequently restored and displayed in the Iraqi Museum.

The rest of the statue, Jako posits, was intentionally reburied as a protective measure, a precaution that proved its worth when ISIS, designated as a terrorist organization, took control of Mosul and destroyed numerous historical artifacts and sites. The re-emergence of the Lamassu's body is a testament to the foresight of those who sought to protect Iraq's cultural heritage.

With the statue now fully excavated, the Iraqi government faces the challenge of how to preserve and display this significant artifact, particularly given the current limitations of the Iraqi Museum to accommodate it. The Lamassu's journey—from its creation nearly three millennia ago to its recent unearthing—echoes the turbulent history of the land it once stood to protect, and it now awaits a new chapter as part of Iraq's rich historical legacy.