3,000-Year-Old Artifact from Assyrian Era to Be Sold at New York Auction

A rare ancient stone relief dating back 3,000 years from the Assyrian Empire period in northern Iraq will be auctioned today at Christie’s auction house in New York, and is expected to sell for at least $10 million.

According to CNN, the stone relief will be put up for auction on Tuesday.

This artifact is considered the finest example of Assyrian art. If this piece sells for more than $11.94 million, it will set a new record for an Assyrian artwork.

The stone relief was discovered in the 19th century in the city of Nimrud, located in present-day Iraq, and has been kept in a private library for years.

The Iraqi Ministry of Culture has requested the return of this stone relief to Iraq, but a Christie’s spokesperson says that through legal channels, it has been confirmed that from a legal standpoint, there is no basis for ownership claim in this matter.

Source: Voice of America