How does The Death of Sardanapalus portray the Assyrian ruler Sardanapalus?

In Eugène Delacroix’s 1826/27 masterpiece, The Death of Sardanapalus, the legendary Assyrian ruler is portrayed as a figure of extreme decadence and sinister detachment.12

Inspired by Lord Byron’s play, the painting depicts the king following a major military defeat. Rather than facing his fate with traditional heroism, Sardanapalus is shown reclining amidst a chaotic, nightmarish scene of destruction. As he orders the slaughter of his concubines, slaves, and horses to accompany him in a final, self-immolating pyre, he surveys the surrounding mayhem with a chilling, cool detachment. This contrast between the frantic, violent energy of the scene and the king's calm, indulgent posture creates a deeply unsettling and sinister mood, emphasizing his total disregard for the lives being sacrificed for his own end.12