Lion

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art collection, this petite wooden lion sculpture (h. 7.3 cm) captures the fierce spirit of ancient Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period, 1700–1550 B.C. Crafted from wood by an unknown artist in the late Dynasty 13 to early Dynasty 18, exemplifies the era's transitional artistry amid political fragmentation, when Theban rulers vied for power against northern invaders like the Hyks. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 5, this rare survivor highlights the fragility and resilience of wooden artifacts from antiquity. Lions held profound symbolic ...