Lion panels from the Ishtar Gate
Two Panels with striding lions
Neo-Babylonian
Nebuchadnezzar II; 604–562 B.C.Two Panels with striding lions
Neo-Babylonian
Mesopotamia, Babylon (modern Hilah)
The lion was sacred to ishtar the goddess of love and war. there where more than 100 of these beasts lined up on the lower part of the ishtar gate in babylon. i thought this was just a really interesting piece, the lions seemed to be a way to make the citizens feel protected and safe.
8 comments:
mel perez art3
Wow! they are just extraordinary. just beautiful. i would love to be able to go see these in person if possible. any chance you can give me the location? very interesting to know that these lions made citizens feel protected and safe. any chance you could let me know why they made citizens feel this way? did they think these lions would pop out and defend them or what?
Shawna Stanley
Art 3
I love that the color has stayed throughout the ages! The vibrant blue is breathtaking. At this point in history leaders used architecture and art to create a feeling of ease during a time a turmoil. I think it was more of an artistic warning to use the lions, would you be scared to invade a town that had bunnies all over its walls, or lions?
Janiri Lucatero Art5
These two ancient pieces are very lovely. The way the colored glazed bricks are really bring out the gold on the lion. The lion was the symbol of the goddess Ishtar and served to protect the streets. I think using lions as a protector for the Ishtar Gate in Babylon was great because most people are terrified of them and wouldn't get close to one.
Mary Janini art 3
The lions to me look more beautiful then being scared of them. It is a wonderful art piece. I've noticed that a lot of ancient civilizations loved to have gate keepers, just like the lamassu. Over all i think this art piece is extremely beautiful and the colors were perfect!
Wow that looks amazing! The fur is so detailed and the entire piece is very realistic. The lion even looks as if it is dimensional and popping out of the wall. Very cool how artists have such talent. I would definitely wouldn't invade babylon. The lion was a great choice to scare people off.
The combination of gold and the teal blue look beautiful together. Though the lions are suppose to give off a scared view, the art of them make it almost impossible to be scared of the images but more on complimenting of how beautiful they still look. The details of the lions are magnificent.
-Samantha Contreras Art 3
5/04/12
The colors on these Striding Lion: Panel are very well put together.It is amazing that the panel has held together for so long since the fall of the empire. The whites, blacks, blues, reds, and yellows are beautiful colors that enhances the strength of the lion (king of the jungle)which symolizes authority and "rule".
(Patricia Reynoso ART9 )
The intricacy of the lion and contrasting colors really make this piece pop. The relief on the wall seems to make the lion more realistic.
Art 3
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