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Ivory Panel Showing a Lion Facing a Tree
Fragmentary openwork, tenoned panel depicting a lion seated to the left and facing the stylized tree. The lion is crowned with the sun disc and displays pointed dog-like ears. It wears a lappet wig and usekh collar (represented frontally, and decorated with crescents and droplets). The ribs are clearly defined. One flower is fronded and the other flower is a lily with a fronded center.
Excavated by the British School of Archaeology in Iraq. From Room NW15 at Fort Shalmaneser, Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), modern-day Iraq. 9th to 7th century BCE.
The Iraq Museum, Baghdad.
Questions & Answers
What did the lion symbolize in ancient Mesopotamia?
- In ancient Mesopotamia, the lion symbolized the destructive forces of chaos and untamed nature, threatening order and civilization. The lion came to symbolize royal power in that the king defeated these forces and maintained order and stability.
What kind of lion lived in ancient Mesopotamia?
- The Asiatic lion lived in ancient Mesopotamia and appears in Mesopotamian art.
What was the purpose of the royal lion hunt in ancient Mesopotamia?
- The purpose of the royal lion hunt in ancient Mesopotamia was to show to the people how the king defeated the forces of chaos and destruction and could keep the people safe.
What is the most famous depiction of lions from ancient Mesopotamia?
- The most famous depiction of a lion from ancient Mesopotamia is the image of the Lion of Babylon on the Ishtar Gate. The Royal Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal, depicted in a series of reliefs from Nineveh, now on display at the British Museum, is also well-known.
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External Links
Lion Hunting: The Sport of Kings
britishmuseum.org
The Lion in the East
antiochrecoveryproject.org
