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Primary sourceSculpture7th century BC

Stela of Ashurbanipal Carrying a Basket of Earth

7th century BC

A red sandstone stela showing King Ashurbanipal as a temple-builder, carrying a ritual basket of earth, with a cuneiform inscription recording his rebuilding of a sanctuary in Borsippa.

Shows Ashurbanipal as a temple-builder, commemorating his rebuilding of Nabû's sanctuary at Borsippa.

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Carved grey stone relief stela showing a bearded figure in a tiered cylindrical headdress with arms raised holding a basket on his head, wearing a fringed, layered robe with a belt. Arched stone top edge.
Stela of Ashurbanipal carrying a basket of earth, 7th century BC. British Museum, BM 90865.

About this source

What it is

This is a red sandstone stela carved with an image of King Ashurbanipal in the pose of a builder, balancing a basket of ritual earth on his head. It carries a cuneiform inscription and dates to the 7th century BC. It is held by the British Museum.

Why it matters

The stela commemorates the rebuilding of E-Zida, the sanctuary of the god Nabû at Borsippa in Babylonia. Kings often showed themselves this way to present themselves as pious servants of the gods, not just warriors. It shows how Ashurbanipal wanted to be remembered as a builder and restorer of temples.

Look closer

  • What is the king carrying, and why might this pose have been chosen?
  • What does the cuneiform text add that the image alone cannot tell us?
  • Why might a king want to be shown doing manual, ritual work?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ashurbanipal on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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