Image Gallery
A Pair of Lions from Tell Harmal at the Iraq Museum
Two terracotta lions found at the entrance to the Dagan Temple at Tell Harmal (ancient Shaduppum), in the eastern outskirt of Baghdad, Old Babylonian period, c. 1800 BCE.
The temple was a typical Old-Babylonian one, with a short staircase made of mudbricks and flanked by platforms, on which those lions once stood. The lions were constructed from many fragments and probably the two lions date to different periods. The gaping jaws and bristly manes would avert any evil from entering the temple. The temple was dedicated to Nisaba (goddess of the grain and writing) and her consort, Haja. This lion (close to the viewer) was safe and intact during the ransacking of the Iraq Museum in April 2003; however, the other lion was vandalized by the looters and was restored afterwards. Both lions were made of baked and moulded clay (with a hollow interior).
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.
