Like all Assyrian kings, Ashurbanipal decorated the public walls of his palace with images of himself performing great feats of bravery, strength, and skill. The king killing lions was an important symbolic act that spoke how the king is keeping his city safe. On the left side the king which we see him taking aim at a lion in front of his chariot, while his assistants fend off another lion attacking at the rear. On the right side are the lions and they are with really fears faces, there are many arrows in their body. Also, the one on the middle is still jumping, we see the strength of the lions, it was meant to glorify the ruler because if the ruler were able to defeat the lions that mean he is even more powerful and stronger than the lions.