Sohal 3

Anupamdeep K Sohal
History 134
May, 18 2015
Professor Kimberly Lark
Assyrians Hunting and Killing Lions
Did you know killing a lion could a sport in the past generations in the Assyrians
kingdom? Believe me I was shocked myself because now a days I hear about hunting deer or
rabbits or any other animals that are not dangerous a hobby, plus we need a license to hunt. Back
then the kings had dangerous hobbies according to The British museum I read that the kings
would play a sport that considered killing lions and making that a fun activity together. symbolic
of the ruling monarchs duty to protect and fight for his people according to the museum which
is very rare to see that putting yourself in a dangerous position is how the kings kept their symbol
of monarch in a upper level. Also reading that the article on the museum I found out that there
was art sculptures made of kings fighting to kill the lions which is also a famous peace. On top of
the paper I had put the picture up from the website of British museum showing art where the
kings where playing the sport of killing lions and enjoying their daily life. This was in the 645635 BC when the Assyrians were hunting and killing Lions. Another website I had used to
research about the Assyrians killing and hunting lions was History 01: the origins of the western
traditions I had found a big quote which I will quote here This relief from Nimrud represents
Ashurnasirpal II on a lion hunt. Evidence from other reliefs suggests that the Assyrian kings
either captured lions or bred them in captivity. Released from a cage, the lions would run about
as the kings hunted them from a chariot with a bow and arrow. Only royalty or aristocrats used
chariots which played a prominent role in Assyrian warfare. The two servants (beaters perhaps?)

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on the left wear the pointed, iron helmets associated with Assyrian infantry this was according
to the website, which shocked me even more. The kings captured the lions and then they would
let them go and follow them in their chariots and try to hunt them down. Another website I had
used to research about is Assyrian Lion Hunt this article also had very fascinating information
on it. According to the website the only reason the kings hunted the lions was to protect the
people of his kingdom which meant taking out the dangerous species out of the way and saving
their kingdom and their population. Also according to the Assyrian Lion Hunt Lions were not
uncommon in the Ancient Near East. King Ashurbanipal of Assyria noted that the hills abounded
with lions who were killing cattle and humans alike. This meant that the kings made their
servants catch the lions and put them in a cage which would make it easy for the king to hunt the
lions down and also less deadly. The last website I went to, for the information on the Lions was
called Ancient Civilization according to this website The Assyrian ruler also claimed great
expertise as a hunter who on one expedition killed over 900 lions and captured several elephants
alive. Even though there werent that many lions around their areas they still managed to kill
900 lions which is a lot and I would think a lot of people who tried capturing the lions, they
ended up injured or dead. In my opinion this was fascinating paper to research about because I
never thought that anyone one was that brave enough to kill lions to protect there kingdom,
which is another reason this kingdom is the strongest.

Bibliography (work-cited)

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Assyria (Room 10)." British Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2015.
"Assyrian Lion Hunt." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Http://www.ancient.eu/image/96/, 26 Apr.
2012. Web. 18 May 2015.
"Assyrians: Cavalry and Conquests." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 18
May 2015.
Hugh Dubrulle. "HI01 Web Gallery." HI01 Web Gallery. Hugh Dubrulle, n.d. Web. 18 May
2015.
Phil Mayer. "Assyria (Room 10)." British Museum. The British Musem, n.d. Web. 18 May 2015.