Art History: Give A Detailed Analysis Of Lamassu (Essay Sample)

Lamassu
Lamassu is a large carved stone statue of a consecrated, winged bull that has a man’s head. The head is perpetually bearded; this is because men in Mesopotamia had always long beards. The peak of the head is phallic, and the statue head bears the crown of the king at that particular time. Lamassu in Mesopotamia language means a spirit that is protective and the word is always in plural form. This special statue, Lamassu, was positioned on either side of the front entrance of Assyrian palaces, and of entryway to towns to defend against wicked spirits, and make an impression to the neighbors (Curatola, 2007).
However, it is usually put on show in museums, in its original context; a Lamassu is the protector of an entrance way, essential with a wall. For this reason, it is not a completely freestanding statue. It was engraved as if it were two reliefs connected at right point of view. Most of them have five legs, this is necessitated by the fact that it the only way it can be viewed from both angles. Two of the legs are usually seen from the front view while the four are seen from the rear view. Above all, when one views the sculpture from the front side, it is basically at rest but when you view it from back side it appears to be in motion (Curatola, 2007).
The bull shows strength; this was because in this times in M...