Assyrian Ceremonial Bucket - Cermonial Apkallu
- Ryan Moorhen
- Jul 30, 2018
- 1 min read

This is a close-up image of an Assyrian bucket (banduddu) held by a protective spirit (Apkallu). During certain ceremonies, this bucket was filled with a fluid and the Apkallu dips a pine cone (mullilu) into it; the Apkallu then sprinkles the Assyrian king and his courtiers to purify them. The "standard inscription" of Ashurnasirpal II runs horizontally across the upper part of the relief. From the north-west palace of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud (ancient Kalhu; Biblical Calah). From Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. Neo-Assyrian period, 875-860 BCE. The Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraq.
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