Who might the bronze head discovered at Nineveh represent?

The life-size, cast, and chased bronze head discovered at Nineveh is considered one of the finest pieces of metal sculpture recovered from Mesopotamia. Scholars primarily suggest it represents the Akkadian monarch Sargon of Akkad, as historical inscriptions indicate that Sargon’s son, Manishtusu, built a temple at Nineveh, making it appropriate for a model of the dynasty's founder to be placed there.1

However, due to the head's brilliant technique and elaborately modeled features, some authorities propose that it may belong to a later stage of the Akkadian Period, in which case it could represent Sargon's grandson, Naram-Sin. The hypothesis favoring Sargon remains more widely accepted, as it aligns with the historical context of the site's development during that era.1