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Unknown Maker, Greek

Funerary Lion

Maker

Unknown Maker, Greek

Culture

Greek

Title

Funerary Lion

Period

Ancient

Year

ca. 390-380 BCE

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

pentelic marble

Geography

Archaeological Site: Attica

Dimensions

46 x 96.8 x 27 cm (18 1/8 x 38 1/8 x 10 5/8 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke

Object Number

15.003

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries
Sep 22, 2010

Label copy

This crouching lion once functioned as the symbolic guardian of a grave in Athens or in the surrounding countryside. With its head turned and mouth open, it was poised to pounce on any intruder. Guarding family burial plots situated along the roads leading out of Athens, lions such as this fulfilled a two-fold purpose: to protect the tomb and to highlight the wealth and prestige of the family. The unrealistic rendering of the lion’s face, mane, and body reflects the fact that Greek artists at this time, having never seen lions, based their depictions of them on large dogs and domestic cats.

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Greek
Funerary Lion, ca. 390-380 BCE
Pentelic marble
46 x 96.8 x 27 cm (18 1/8 x 38 1/8 x 10 5/8 inches)
Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke 15.003

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