Ancient city razed by IS group yields new artifacts from the rubble

In 2015, the Islamic State group razed the ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud, located 30 kilometers south of Mosul in modern-day Iraq. Wielding bombs and bulldozers, they demolished the city’s nearly 3000-year-old palace, temples, sculptures, and carvings in just a matter of days. Now, researchers sifting through the rubble have unearthed previously unknown artifacts from a ruined temple dedicated to Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love and war. Earlier this year, archaeologists from Iraq and the University of Pennsylvania discovered fragments of a large stone monument (pictured) that depict Ishtar alongside an influential Assyrian king, Ashurnasirpal II. The fragments were found in a modern reconstruction of the Temple of Ishtar that encased original historic remains in the northern sector of Nimrud—once the capital of the ancient Assyrian Empire. One fragment, which depicts the goddess inside a star, is the first known representation of Ishtar Sharrat-niphi, an aspect of the deity associated with the planet Venus. This discovery emerged from a larger race against destructive natural elements and potential looters to salvage and protect Nimrud’s demolished remains. In addition to repairing the damage wrought by the Islamic State and previous European excavations in the 19th century, the restoration project’s organizers hope to slowly help Iraq recover and rebuild its long-standing cultural heritage.
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research