Ancient Egyptians began to produce fairly large statues even
before the beginning of Dynasty 1. Most of these statues
represent animals. They may be the early forms of some later
animal-headed gods, but their exact identities are not certain.
This lion, for example, may have depicted a specific god or
symbolized the royal might of a king. Only the animal's
essential characteristics, including a small ruff, have been
indicated in the very hard stone. - Medium: Pegmatite -
Geographical Locations: - Dates: ca. 3300-3100 B.C.E. - Dynasty:
early I Dynasty - Period: Predynastic Period, Naqada III Period
- Dimensions: 9 3/4 x 7 7/8 x 12 13/16 in. (24.8 x 20 x 32.5 cm)
(show scale) - Collections:Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near
Eastern Art - Museum Location: This item is on view in Egypt
Reborn: Art for Eternity, Pre-Dynastic, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd
Floor - Accession Number: 73.26 - Credit Line: Charles Edwin
Wilbour Fund - Rights Statement: Creative Commons-BY - Caption:
Lion, ca. 3300-3100 B.C.E. Pegmatite, 9 3/4