Below, a picture of Asshur, from a bas-relief, the National god of Assyria, assimilated to a Winged Sun-disc as an Eagle, with drawn bow, shooting arrows at his enemies. In the Neo-Assyrian period, Asshur absorbed the attributes of the other gods following Babylonian usage (Marduk of Babylon absorbing attributes of the other gods in the national hymn called the Enuma Elish). I suspect the Hebrew Bible's imagery of Yahweh as a fiery God and sun-disc possessing wings, firing arrows upon his enemies, reflects Assyrian and Babylonian conceptions of their national gods (For God's "wings" cf. Malachi 4:2; Exodus 19:4; Ruth 2:12; Psalm 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7, 91:4; For God's "arrows" cf. De 32:23, 42; Job 6:4; Psalm 18:14; 21:12; 144:6; For God likened to an "Eagle," cf. Exodus 19:4). Marduk and later the Persian god Ahura-Mazda are iconographically portrayed in the same manner, the lower half of their bodies as an Eagle, within a winged Sun Disc. Please note, that while the Hebrews may have been forbidden to make an Icon or Image of God to worship, they were permitted to describe him metaphorically in the imagery of the supreme national gods of Assyria and Babylonia. (cf. p.211 for the below illustration. Austen Henry Layard.A Popular Account of Discoveries At Nineveh. London. John Murray. 1852)
Below, Asshur with fiery flames (?) erupting from his body (cf. p.212 for the below illustration. Austen Henry Layard.A Popular Account of Discoveries At Nineveh. London. John Murray. 1852)
