A Pair of Lions from Tell Harmal at the Iraq Museum

Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
by
published on 21 March 2019
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A Pair of Lions from Tell Harmal at the Iraq Museum

These two terracotta lions were found at the entrance to the Dagan Temple at Tell Harmal (ancient Shaduppum), in the eastern outskirt of Baghdad. The temple was a typical Old-Babylonian one, with a short staircase made of mudbricks and flanked by platforms, on which those lions once stood. The lions were constructed from many fragments and probably the two lions date to different periods. The gaping jaws and bristly manes would avert any evil from entering the temple. The temple was dedicated to Nisaba (goddess of the grain and writing) and her consort, Haja. This lion (close to the viewer) was safe and intact during the ransacking of the Iraq Museum in April 2003 CE; however, the other lion was vandalized by the looters. and was restored afterwards. Both lions were made of baked and moulded clay (with a hollow interior) and date to the Old Babylonian period, c. 1800 BCE. They are on display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, the Republic of Iraq.

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2019, March 21). A Pair of Lions from Tell Harmal at the Iraq Museum. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10275/a-pair-of-lions-from-tell-harmal-at-the-iraq-museu/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "A Pair of Lions from Tell Harmal at the Iraq Museum." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified March 21, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10275/a-pair-of-lions-from-tell-harmal-at-the-iraq-museu/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "A Pair of Lions from Tell Harmal at the Iraq Museum." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 21 Mar 2019. Web. 20 Oct 2021.