Artwork details: Relief With winged genius, alabaster, 883-859 BC (Neo-Assyrian).

This alabaster image was part of the palace of King Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud, an area that is currently part of Iraq. It portrays a kind of spirit (called a genius) who is sprinkling a magic potion on a sacred tree or a king (portrayed in an image that appears on the next panel of the original artwork). The genius is dressed like a courtier, with elegant jewelry and a fringed cloak. His horned crown shows that he is a god.

Image courtesy of The Walters Art Museum.