Stele of Naram-Sin

Naram-Sin's famed victory stele depicts him as king climbing a mountain above his soldiers, and his enemies, the defeated Lullubi. It still strikingly reveals the pride, glory, and divinity of Naram-Sin. The stele is portrayed in a way that raises the king above all subjects, both enemy and vassal alike. He is god-like, next to the sun and high in the sky where the gods reside. There are warriors depicted in the stele, but it is not a battle going on. Instead, they are all looking at the king almost in reverence. Naram-Sin's soldiers march in an orderly fashion up the side of the mountain, while the defeated fall in a chaotic fashion down the mountain. Their unorganized manner reinforces their subordination to the king in the horned helmet. This portrayal shows shows an uncivilized and barbaric nature of the Lullubi, which makes Naram-Sin’s conquest a victory over the weak.