... after narrowly avoiding destruction by ISIS show a king surrounded by gods astride mythical beasts

• Assyrian rock carvings are the first of their kind found in 150 years  
• Archaeologists abandoned the dig in 2014 as ISIS was just 15 miles away  
• Following ISIS defeat, experts returned to the site in Iraq  to finish excavations 
• Found rock carvings of an Assyrian king paying homage to the gods and surrounded by mythical creatures  

Ancient carvings of an Assyrian king honouring the gods while surrounded by mythical beasts have been safely unearthed in Iraq after being threatened by ISIS. 

ISIS seized the city of Mosul in 2014 and researchers were forced to abandon the archaeological site of Faida as the ruthless force was just 15 miles away. 

The ten rock reliefs were found in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and are believed to be the first of their kind discovered in 150 years.

Archaeologists surveyed the site in 2012 and it was only late last year, with the self-proclaimed caliphate overthrown, that archaeologists were able to return and excavate the treasures left behind.