Archaeologists in Iraq have uncovered what they say is the largest Assyrian winged bull ever recorded, a monumental sculpture nearly six meters tall that could redefine the scale of Mesopotamian art.
The lamassu, a hybrid creature with the body of a bull, the wings of an eagle, and a human head, was found in the ruins of King Esarhaddon’s throne hall at the Nabi Yunus site in Mosul, part of ancient Nineveh.
Colossal find surpasses all known examples
The newly revealed statue surpasses all known lamassu, which typically range from 3.5 to 4.2 meters (11.5 to 14 feet). Famous examples are displayed in the British Museum and the Louvre. Even the massive figures excavated at Nimrud in the 19th century rarely reach the size of the Mosul bull.
العراق يعلن اكتشاف أكبر ثور مجنح في تاريخ الدولة الآشورية بارتفاع 6 أمتار
بالصور : اكتشاف ثور مجنح يزين واجهة قصر الملك الآشوري أسرحدون خلال أعمال التنقيبات المشتركة للبعثة العراقية – الألمانية في موقع تل النبي يونس بمدينة الموصل pic.twitter.com/nVrjzlgrrX
— أماكن العراق 🇮🇶 IRAQ PLACES (@iraq_places) September 19, 2025
At close to six meters (20 feet), the discovery marks a milestone in Assyrian archaeology and underscores the scale of imperial ambition under Esarhaddon, who ruled from 681 to 669 BCE. Archaeologists believe the figure once formed part of a pair flanking the entrance to the king’s throne hall.
Palace of a powerful Assyrian king
Esarhaddon is remembered as one of the most powerful rulers of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, credited with rebuilding Babylon and leading campaigns in Egypt and across the Near East. His palace at Nineveh, according to researchers, was designed with adjoining halls leading to the throne room, each entrance guarded by lamassu.
The Nabi Yunus site has yielded similar finds before. A smaller lamassu measuring just under four meters was unearthed in the 1990s, and another large example was announced in 2021. The latest discovery, however, towers above them all, cementing the site’s status as a center for the study of Assyrian monumental art.
Cultural and tourism importance stressed
Ruwaid Muwafaq, director of the Nineveh Antiquities and Heritage Inspectorate, said the find would “greatly enhance the archaeological and touristic importance of the site.” Excavations are being conducted by Iraq’s antiquities authority in cooperation with Germany’s Heidelberg University.
Peter Nicholas, an archaeologist from Heidelberg, explained that teams also recovered cuneiform tablets inscribed with the writings of Kings Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, and Ashurbanipal, as well as artifacts believed to be spoils from campaigns in Egypt and the Levant.
Discovery raises questions for scholars
The discovery comes as Iraq invests heavily in restoring Mosul’s cultural heritage, much of which was damaged in recent conflicts. For scholars, the giant lamassu raises new questions about Assyrian art and engineering. Was it a singular commission by Esarhaddon, or evidence of a tradition now mostly lost? How was such a colossal figure carved and installed?
Experts caution that further documentation is needed. Precise measurements, 3D scans, and conservation work will confirm the statue’s full dimensions and context.
If verified, the Mosul lamassu would stand as the largest ever recorded, surpassing all known examples and once again projecting the strength and grandeur of a civilization that flourished nearly 2,700 years ago.
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