Detail of a Human-Headed Genie with Armlets Relief in the Brooklyn Museum, August 2007

Human-Headed Genie With Armlets
Alabaster
Neo-Assyrian Period, reign of Ashur-nasir-pal II (circa 883-859 BC)
Iraq, Nimrud (Kalhu), from room Z of the Northwest Palace
Accession # 55.145

Although the Brooklyn reliefs all depict the same theme- the king and his supernatural helpers performing religious ceremonies- the artists did show considerable variety in the selection of details. This genie wears a set of unusual armlets. They are adorned with the head of a mushkhushu, or a "furious snake" demon. This demon may have been associated with Ashur, the chief god of the Assyrian pantheon.

Text from the Brooklyn Museum label.