I am Ashurbanipal: king of Assyria, king of the world

In 669 BC, Ashurbanipal became the most powerful person on the planet. From his capital at Nineveh, in present-day Iraq, he ruled a vast and diverse empire, shaping the lives of peoples from the shores of the eastern Mediterranean to the mountains of western Iran. On his ascent to the throne in 669 BC, Ashurbanipal inherited the largest empire the world had ever seen, which extended from the eastern Mediterranean basin to western Iran.

This exhibition will use text, timelines and maps to orientate and introduce visitors to ancient Assyria. Visitors will be introduced to Ashurbanipal and notions of Assyrian kingship via a representation of the Lion Hunt relief.