Assyrian scene of sacrificing with hand tool
The series of pictures from an obelisk of Ashurnasirpal II (884–859 BCE) shows at the left a shrine on a mound. A praying person is standing in front of a deity sitting on a throne. Next to the shrine is an altar where offerings could be deposited, followed by an altar were incense is burning next to a large container on a stand. Moving towards the shrine, the king is wearing a long robe and is holding a vessel with lid in his hand. A priest follows him, carrying another vessel. On the right, a man is standing in front of a bull and is putting his hand on the bull’s head. Perhaps he is leading the bull to the altar as sacrifice. Two other men seem to nudge the bull from behind, followed by two additional men. But the scene could also illustrate the laying of hands on the head of the burned offering as transfer of guilt from man to animal for the purpose of atonement as described in Lev 1:4.
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