Statue of Ashurbanipal

The Statue of Ashurbanipal is a 15-foot bronze sculpture by Fred Parhad, an artist of Assyrian descent. It depicts the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal and was commissioned by the Assyrian Foundation for the Arts. The statue was presented to San Francisco in 1988 as a gift from the Assyrian people, and it stands in the Civic Center. The sculpture cost $100,000 and is the first sizable bronze statue of Ashurbanipal. Visitors can view this public artwork and consider the debate over its accuracy. Some local Assyrians criticized the portrayal of the king holding a clay tablet and a lion while wearing a skirt, arguing it resembled the Sumerian king Gilgamesh. The artist defended his work, noting he took artistic liberties. The statue is administered by the City and County of San Francisco and the San Francisco Arts Commission.