Museum: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Information

  • Artist: Unknown
  • Period: Neo-Babylonian
  • Date: ca. 604–562 B.C.
  • Geography: Mesopotamia, Babylon. Modern Day Hillah (A City in Central Iraq)
  • Culture: Babylonian
  • Medium: Ceramic & Glaze

Analysis

The Striding Lion installation in The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a ceramic and glaze infused artwork that has stayed relatively preserved for around 2 millennials. The lion appears very muscular and the cracks in the ceramic tiles add definition to the lion’s legs. The face of the lion has some anthropomorphic features as its eyes are large and seem human like. 

When first seeing the piece my eyes immediately went over to the mane. The mane is swept back across the lion’s heads and goes as far as the middle of its body. The lower part of the mane resembles a wing. The wing has an outline/bevel and is heavily emphasized in the piece. Mesopotamian and Bablyanonion culture/religion refers to a deity called Lamassu. Lamassu is a protective deity, often depicted as having a human head, the body of a bull or a lion, and bird wings. I’m assuming the unique mane was used to pay homage to Lamassu. Additionally, artwork of lions are used to signify/symbolize strength and were often found in royal palaces. Maybe this piece was created to signify the influence of the king of Babylon at the time, Nebuchadnezzar II.

At first glance of the lion I was in awe of its beauty and the unique style used to create the piece. The colors implemented compliment each other and the overall assertiveness that resonates from the lion adds a sense of elegance to the piece.