Upper Chambers at Kalhu

The Upper Chambers were excavated by Austen Henry Layard in 1847–51 and William Kennett Loftus in 1854. The area consisted of a large hall and a suite of three small chambers. Its walls have fresco decoration depicting winged bulls, crenellated battlements, and geometric patterns. Julian Reade (2011: 117) has suggested that the Upper Chambers, which would have formed part of the palace of the Assyrian king Adad-nārārī III (r. 810-783 BC), "would have been an appropriate residence for Sammu-ramat, Adad-nirari’s mother, who clearly had great power during at least the early years of her son’s reign. It would be an example of a palace built specifically for a member of the royal family." J. Oates (2004: 70) has suggested that the Upper Chambers would have been "a prestigious and attractive suite, on an upper floor and almost certainly with a fine view of the Tigris valley." The walls excavated by Layard in the mid-nineteenth century have now totally eroded.