3,000-year-old Assyrian artifact to be sold at New York auction

A rare 3,000-year-old ancient petroglyph from the Assyrian Empire in northern Iraq is going up for auction today at Christie's in New York and is expected to fetch at least $10 million.

According to CNN, the petroglyph will be auctioned on Tuesday.

This work is considered the finest example of Assyrian art. If it sells for more than $11.94 million, it would be a new record for an Assyrian work of art.

This petroglyph was discovered in the 19th century in the city of Nimrud, located in modern-day Iraq, from under rubble and was kept in a private library for many years.

The Iraqi Ministry of Culture has demanded the return of the petroglyph to Iraq, but a Christie's spokesman says it has been assured through legal authorities that there is no legal basis for the claim of ownership in this case.

Source: Voice of America