id:			101389
accession number:	1920.2001
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1920.2001
updated:		2022-09-22 09:06:00.161000

Statuette of a Lion, 380–246 BC. Egypt, Late Period, Dynasty 30 or later. Limestone; overall: 13.8 x 12 cm (5 7/16 x 4 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust 1920.2001

title:				Statuette of a Lion
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			380–246 BC
creation date earliest:		-380
creation date latest:		-246
current location:		107 Egyptian
creditline:			Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
copyright:			

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culture:	Egypt, Late Period, Dynasty 30 or later
technique:	limestone
department:	Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
collection:	Egypt - Late Period
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall: 13.8 x 12 cm (5 7/16 x 4 3/4 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

* <em>Egyptian Art Under the Greeks and Romans: 332 B.C. to A.D. 330</em>, Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri-Columbia (September 26-November 15, 1987).

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PROVENANCE

	Said to be from Leontopolis (Tell el-Muqdam). Purchased from Maurice Nahman, Cairo, through Howard Carter
	date: 
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact: 
In antiquity, lions were often associated with rulers and this miniature sculpture likely depicts the Egyptian lion god Mahes. In ancient Egypt, a special city known as Leontopolis, or "Lion-City," had a temple dedicated to this deity in which live lions were kept. This small limestone sculpture would have been at home in such a location.

digital description: 


wall description: 
Lions in Egyptian art are usually shown prone and relaxed, and usually represent the king. But this statuette probably represents the lion god Mahes who had a great temple at Leontopolis ("Lion-City") in the Delta where lions were kept. We know from classical authors that the temple maintained musicians to play to the lions to calm their nerves.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

	University of Missouri--Columbia. <em>Egyptian Art Under the Greeks and Romans, 332 B.C. to A.D. 330</em>: Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri-Columbia, September 26-November 15, 1987. Columbia, Mo: Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1987.
	page number: 	No. 132
	url:		

	Berman, Lawrence M., and Kenneth J. Bohač.<em> Catalogue of Egyptian Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art.</em> Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1999
	page number: 	Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 468-9
	url:		

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1920.2001/1920.2001_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1920.2001/1920.2001_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1920.2001/1920.2001_full.tif