Reclining lion
Unknown Artist
332 B.C.–A.D. 364
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
L. 45.6 cm (17 15/16 in.); W. 19.1 cm (7 1/2 in.); H. 22.6 cm (8 7/8 in.)
Classification
Statue, lion
Period
Ptolemaic or Roman Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.181.195
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the **Reclining Lion**, captivating limestone sculpture from Egypt's Ptolemaic or Roman (332 B.C.–A.D. 364). Carved with skillful precision, this compact figure measures 45.6 cm long, 19.1 cm wide, and 22.6 cm high, capturing a lion in a serene, majestic pose. Limestone, abundant in ancient Egypt, was a favored medium for its workability and durability, allowing artisans to render fine details like the beast's muscular form and relaxed posture. In the cosmopolitan world of Ptolemaic Egypt—ruled by Greek descendants of Alexander the Great before Roman dominance—lions symbolized raw powe...