The lamassu at the British Museum are monumental Assyrian sculptures from the ancient cities of Nineveh and Nimrud, dating to the Neo-Assyrian Empire (9th–7th century BC). These winged creatures with human heads and the bodies of bulls or lions once guarded royal palace entrances, symbolizing strength, wisdom, and divine protection. Discovered in the mid-19th century by Sir Austen Henry Layard, they are now displayed in the museum’s Assyrian Sculpture Galleries, showcasing the artistry of this p