Ashurbanipal

Ashurbanipal is a bronze sculpture at the Civic Center in San Francisco depicting an ancient Assyrian king holding a clay tablet and standing in characteristic dress of the period. The approximately 15-foot tall figure stands on a decorated pedestal between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum.

The Assyrian Foundation for the Arts commissioned artist Fred Parhad to create this statue, which was presented to San Francisco in 1988. The work became a public representation of ancient Mesopotamian history in an American city.

The inscriptions on the base display text in English, Akkadian cuneiform, and Aramaic, reflecting the diverse history of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Visitors can see these different writing systems side by side and understand how these cultures were connected.

The monument stands on Fulton Street between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum, making it easy to locate. The area around the statue is accessible and part of a public cultural zone that visitors naturally pass through.

The depiction of the king wearing a short skirt and holding a clay tablet sparked discussions within the Assyrian community about historical accuracy. Visitors often become curious about this unusual imagery and the debate it represents.