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Primary sourceSculpture668-655 BCE

Stone Monument of Ashurbanipal as Basket-Bearer

668-655 BCE

A stele from the temple of Nabu at Borsippa showing Ashurbanipal carrying a basket, recording his temple restoration work.

This stele depicts Ashurbanipal as a pious basket-bearer honoring the temple of Nabu during his joint rule with his brother.

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Close-up photo of a dark stone relief sculpture showing a bearded figure wearing a tall cylindrical crown with rows of carved circles, with arms raised overhead holding a basket. A museum label is visible on the right side.
Stone monument of Ashurbanipal as basket-bearer, 668-655 BCE. From the temple of Nabu, Borsippa, Iraq. British Museum, London.

About this source

What it is

This is a detail of a stone monument from 668–655 BCE, found at the temple of Nabu at Borsippa in Iraq and now held by the British Museum. It shows a bearded figure wearing a tall crown, arms raised holding a basket overhead.

Why it matters

The monument records the restoration of the temple of Nabu and asks for a blessing on Shamash-shum-ukin, the king of Babylon who shared rule with Ashurbanipal during this period. The basket-bearing pose shows Ashurbanipal performing a humble, pious act of temple building, presenting him as a devoted servant of the gods even while he held great power. It also reflects the complicated politics between Ashurbanipal and his brother in Babylonia.

Look closer

  • Why might a powerful king want to be shown doing a humble task like carrying a basket for temple building?
  • What does this monument suggest about the relationship between Ashurbanipal and his brother Shamash-shum-ukin?
  • What is missing from this image about the tensions between the two brothers' rule?

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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