British Museum - Now open | 'I am Ashurbanipal'

★★★★★ 'Stunning'  The Times ★★★★★ 'Extraordinary'  Evening Standard ★★★★★ 'Spectacular'  Londonist

The BP exhibition  I am Ashurbanipal: king of the world, king of Assyria Open now Step into the world of Ashurbanipal – one of history’s greatest forgotten kings – in our major new exhibition.  In 669 BC, Ashurbanipal became the most powerful person on earth. From his capital at Nineveh, in present-day Iraq, he ruled the vast and diverse Neo-Assyrian empire. At the time of his reign, it was the largest empire in the world, stretching from the shores of the eastern Mediterranean to the mountains of western Iran. A formidable warrior, but also an avid scholar, Ashurbanipal also developed the world’s first systematically collected and catalogued library. Lost for over 2,000 years, buried by the burning walls of his great palace, the remains of his great library were found in 1849.  Discover the story of these ancient objects and explore the splendour of Ashurbanipal’s palace, with its spectacular sculptures, sumptuous furnishings and exotic gardens, in this fascinating exhibition.  Book Now