The Proud Lion

This lion pictured above, carved in western Syria in the 9th-7th century BC, is lucky not to represent an extinct sub-species. The Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, was hunted to extinction throughout most of its range in the 19th century, and now exists only in one reserve in western India (originally a private hunting preserve). The last pride of lions in Iran was shot in 1963, even though the lion was a national symbol, and had pride of place on the Iranian flag at the time. It is perhaps the proud bearing and courage of the lion that made it vulnerable, because it attracted the attention of hunters that wanted to prove something about themselves (ROM Photography pic). Sadly, both the lion depicted and the elephant with which it is made are now extirpated in Syria.

More information

Image information: Finial in the form of a lion’s head, Syria, ivory, c. 800-600 BC, 996.86.1.

Image source: ROM Photography

Robert Mason is a ROM archaeologist. See his previous posts HERE. Follow him on twitter HERE.

Original post found HERE.

Post by Robert Mason. Last updated: September 30th, 2013