Relief of the storm god
- Audio guide stop: 412
- Gallery: Room 54
- Culture: Neo-Hittite
- Date: 10thC BC (about)
- Object type: relief
- Materials: basalt
- Museum number: 117909
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is a remarkable Neo-Hittite relief fragment from the 10th century BC, carved from dark basalt. Before you is the powerful head and shoulders of the storm god, a central figure in ancient Near Eastern mythology. His raised right hand holds a hammer, a tool associated with strength and creation.
The weathered surface and bold carving reveal the craftsmanship of its time. The storm god's expression is intense, his features both regal and fierce. Basalt was a preferred material for monumental carvings in this region, prized for its durability and deep, rich texture.
This fragment was uncovered at the King's Gate, a site linked to the Neo-Hittite period when local rulers maintained cultural and religious traditions in the wake of the Hittite Empire’s decline. It provides a glimpse into the artistic and spiritual life of this era, capturing a deity central to the storm and battlefield.
See it in person
Relief of the storm god is on display in Room 54 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 412, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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