Ashmolean Museum Oxford – ‘Protective Spirit’ – 3D Scanning

The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology located in Beaumont Street, central Oxford, was Britain’s first public museum. It’s amazing collections are a must-see if you are visiting the city of Oxford.

Below are photos of a high resolution 3D scan we did for the museum some years ago, in relation to an internal research and conservation project. This large hand carved slab is one of many such gypsum panels that lined the walls of rooms in the Northwest Palace at Nimrud, located in the capital of Assyria (what is now northern Iraq). Reliefs depicting supernatural spirits were erected at doorways and against the walls of ritually significant areas of the palace. This particular example, dating back to around (r. 883–859 BC), was especially important as the imagery was designed to offer magical protection to the royal throne room.  .

Originally highlighted with paint, the bird-headed spirit wears fringed robes typical of male supernatural figures and holds a cone and a bucket. The cone is described in Assyrian texts as a purifier and was presumably used to sprinkle liquid from the bucket. The spirit is thus shown in the act of purifying the gateway he guards, helping to create a magical barrier that would keep out the forces of chaos. Further information available on the Ashmolean Museum website.

We have also carried out various other high resolution 3D scans for various conservation teams, and are therefore used to working to conservation guidelines and safety proceedures.

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