Head from a Statue of a Lion
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Object Label
From earliest times, the lion symbolized the power of the Egyptian king. A sculptor carved this image at a time when kings buried lions near their tombs, to demonstrate the monarch’s ability to control a wild animal known for its strength and ferocity. Whether this sculpture came from a tomb or a temple, it captures the essence of that fierce beast.
Caption
Head from a Statue of a Lion, ca. 3300–3100 B.C.E.. Pegmatite, 9 3/4 x 7 7/8 x 12 13/16 in., 42 lb. (24.8 x 20 x 32.5 cm, 19.05kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 73.26. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Title
Head from a Statue of a Lion
Date
ca. 3300–3100 B.C.E.
Dynasty
early Dynasty 1, or earlier
Period
Predynastic Period to Early Dynastic Period
Geography
Possible place collected: Ballana (vicinity), Egypt, Possible place collected: Sohag (vicinity), Egypt
Medium
Pegmatite
Classification
Dimensions
9 3/4 x 7 7/8 x 12 13/16 in., 42 lb. (24.8 x 20 x 32.5 cm, 19.05kg)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
73.26
Frequent Art Questions
Tell me more
This stylized lion head is actually one of the earliest surviving large-scale Egyptian statues. Lions were associated with the king and revered throughout Ancient Egyptian history.Early sculptures like this were designed to stand guard at temples. The arch of this sculpture's neck tells us that it comes from a crouching or reclining statue.
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