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Colossal Stone Lion Sculpture
Sculpture of Lion, stone, Nimrud, Neo-Assyrian, 883-859 BCE
From the Neo-Assyrian Period, 1000 BCE - 612 BCE
Found in Nimrud
Sculpture was used extensively to decorate the palaces of Neo-Assyrian kings in the form of carved orthostats lining walls, and also colossal stone beasts placed in doorways as protective entities. Colossal winged bulls were common, but lions were also used occasionally. The above example comes from the entry of a temple at Nimrud during the reign of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE). The lion was a very potent symbol of royal power in the ancient Near East and was a popular motif in the relief program of the Assyrian king.
Alabaster lion from entrance to temple of Ninurta at Nimrud, reign of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE)
From the Neo-Assyrian Period, 1000 BCE - 612 BCE
Found in Nimrud
The lion was very symbolic in ancient Assyria, and was used in conjunction with images of the king to represent royal power. The lion was also the symbol of the goddess Ishtar. Placed at the entrance of the temple of Ninurta at Nimrud, it probably had an apotropaic function.
"The lion hath roared, who will not fear?" - Amos 3:8
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014_lion_Ashurnasirpal_Ishtar_Nimrud
Colossal guardian lion, around 865 - 860 BC, Nimrud, temple of Ishtar Sharrat-niphi
This 15-ton lion symbolises Ishtar, Assyrian goddess of war. The inscription gives the name of the temple's builder, Ashurnasirpal II (883 - 859 BC). This lion is one of a pair excavated by Austen Henry Layard in 1850.
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015_headof_lion_Ashurnasirpal_Ishtar_Nimrud
Face of colossal guardian lion, around 865 - 860 BC, Nimrud, temple of Ishtar Sharrat-niphi
This is a front view of the face of the lion in the previous photo. The lions in Assyria would have been Asian lions, a few of which can be seen in the London Zoo.
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