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.

A Gallery of Lions of Mesopotamia (Image Gallery) p. 23

Invest in History Education

By supporting our charity World History Foundation, you're investing in the future of history education. Your donation helps us empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills they need to understand the world around them. Help us start the new year ready to publish more reliable historical information, free for everyone.

$4610 / $10000

Image Gallery

by Joshua J. Mark
published on 23 September 2024

Subscribe to topic Subscribe to author

Lion of Babylon [Detail]

by oversnap
published on 26 April 2012

Subscribe to topic Subscribe to author

Lion of Babylon [Detail] — View Full-Size Image

Detail of glazed tiles depicting a lion, from the gates of ancient Babylon (modern-day Iraq).

The lion is the symbol of Babylon, and represents Ishtar, the goddess of fertility, love and war. Meant not only to symbolise Babylon, but to instill fear in enemies, it seems fitting that a single stone lion, albeit poorly preserved, is the only true remainder of Babylon that stands in Iraq today.

Some 120 lions were created in polychrome relief tiles for the processional way towards the northern entrance to Babylon, the Gate of Ishtar, as well as Nebuchadnezzar II's Throne Room. Several museum around the world are in posession of these polychrome lions.

« Previous Image Next Image »

Images in this Gallery

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.

Add External Link

External Links

Lion Hunting: The Sport of Kings

britishmuseum.org

The Lion of Babylon | World Monuments Fund

wmf.org

The Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal: The 2700-year-old 'fake news'

bbc.com

The Lion in the East

antiochrecoveryproject.org

License & Copyright

Original image by oversnap. Uploaded by Jan van der Crabben, published on 26 April 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Copyright. You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.