The Banquet Scene
- Gallery: Room 55
- Culture: Neo-Assyrian
- Made in: Iraq
- Date: 645BC-635BC
- Object type: wall panel, relief
- Materials: gypsum
- Museum number: 124920
- 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 The Banquet Scene, a fragment of a carved gypsum wall panel from ancient Assyria. It shows part of a grand garden scene where a king and queen enjoy a feast beneath a vine-draped arbour. The queen sits opposite the king, who reclines on a luxurious sofa. Maids fan the royal couple and serve them with careful attention. Others bring dishes, protecting the food with fly-whisks, while musicians can be heard nearby.
Suspended from a tree behind them is the head of Teumman, king of Elam, a powerful foe, hanging as a trophy of their victory. The tree is heavy with fruit and decorated with conifers and palms, creating a rich and peaceful atmosphere in contrast to the grisly trophy.
Carved with incredible detail in low relief, the scene showcases the wealth and power of their reign, as well as the daily life in the royal court. The figures, once detailed, now show signs of damage from ancient conflicts and time, offering a poignant look into a civilization’s past.
See it in person
The Banquet Scene is on display in Room 55 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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