Assyrian. Apkallu-figure and Sacred Tree, ca. 883-859 BC Gypsum stone, pigment, Brooklyn Museum,New York, USA. Ancient Assyrians believed that eagle-headed beings with human bodies, called apkall?, were endowed by the gods with extraordinary wisdom. Apkall? were thought to have helped build the great cities, and it was believed that they ensured the well-being of the citiesâ inhabitants. Small, clay eagle-headed figurines have been discovered buried in the walls of Assyrian buildings, probably inserted to protect against evil.
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