REIGN OF ASHURBANIPAL, CIRCA 669-631 B.C.

Preserved on this fragment are the fronds of a date palm and a grape vine upon which are large clusters of grapes. At the bottom left is a crest, part of a horse’s bridle, centered by lotus, with the horse’s ears visible to the right. This fragment most likely comes from Room E of Assurbanipal’s North Palace at Nineveh, which depicts lions in an idyllic garden with similar palms and grape vines, as well as men with hunting dogs, perhaps preparing for the lion hunt that is depicted in Room C. The horse’s crest on the fragment presented here is elaborate enough to suggest that it may have belonged to the king's horse, which might mean that the king's chariot or riding horse was in this room, also preparing for the hunt. Compare for example the horse crest on the king’s chariot team from Room C, now in the British Museum, pl. V in R.D. Barnett, Sculptures From the North Palace of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh (668-627 B.C.). For the garden scene from Room E, also in the British Museum, see op. cit., pl. XV.