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Two lion sculptures

Unknown10th - 8th century BCE

Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Berlin, Germany

In addition to important excavations in Mesopotamia, a distinct focus of German field research has been the cultural region of northern Syria. Ruins of the (late) Hittite-Aramaean settlements Sam’al and Guzana (present-day Zincirli, 10th/7th century BC, south-east Turkey, and Tell Halaf, 10th/6th century BC, northern Syria) were both investigated. The recovery of large numbers of sculptures, reliefs and architectural elements in hard basalt made it possible to reconstruct portions of structures and their decoration. The presentation of a section of the acropolis fortification with a central entrance is monumental. These mudbrick plastered walls pierced by arrow slits atop a relief-decorated foundation are not a recreation of an actual excavation find, but rather a suggestion of how the various structural elements, in dimensions as close to the original as possible, would have functioned. The highlights of the gate structure are the four monumental lion sculptures (the one in front on the left is a plaster cast). On either side of the lions flanking the gate, a richly figured pictorial programme unfolds with a sequence of reliefs from the outer acropolis gate (9th century BC) and from the south city gate (10th century BC). The majority of the motifs are drawn from the realm of religion and myth.

Details

  • Title: Two lion sculptures
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Date Created: 10th - 8th century BCE
  • Location: Samal (Zincirli),Turkey
  • Type: Sculpture
  • Medium: Dolerite
  • Inv. no.: VA 2718, 3001
  • ISIL no.: DE-MUS-815718
  • External link: Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
  • Copyrights: Photo © bpk - Photo Agency / Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz || Text © Prestel Verlag / Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz / Ralf-B. Wartke
  • Collection: Vorderasiatisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz

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