Detal of a relief showing  the head a  winged genius Neo -Assyrian,from  the Northwest of King Ashurnasirpal II (883-859  BC) at Kalhu  (Nimrud)Assyria,present day,Iraq The carving once decorated a  reception  room in  the Royal Palace built by Ashurnasirpal  II in his new capital city  on the banks of the Tigris river.
{}