Lion of Babylon, 90km SW of Baghdad, Iraq, March 1983 during Iran-Iraq War: 2m long, black basalt, carved in reign of Nebuchandnezzar II, 605-562BC.
The Lion of Babylon, 90km SW of Baghdad, Iraq, photographed in March 1983 during the Iran-Iraq War. The 2m-long statue was carved from black basalt during the reign of Neo-Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562BC): a Mesopotamian lion stands over a human figure lying flat on its back. The lion is a constant motif in Mesopotamian art & religion, it was a symbol of Babylon, & of Ishtar, goddess of sexuality & war, protectress of ruling dynasties & their armies. The Lion of Babylon has become a national symbol of Iraq. Since the end of the Iraq War, the World Monuments Fund & Iraq State Board of Antiquities have made improvements at Babylon. In 2013 the Lion was cleaned & partially restored, a new plinth & fence installed, & the surrounding area paved.
Size: 3769px × 2611px
Location: Lion of Babylon, Babylon, Baghdad, Central Iraq, Iraq
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 6th, akkad, alluvial, alluvium, ancient, antiquities, archaeological, archaeology, bab-il, babel, babylon, babylonia, babylonian, bc, board, century, culture, date, defeated, domination, dynasty, east, empire, enemy, fallen, figure, flat, fund, goddess, ground, heritage, human, ii, iraq, iraqi, iraqis, ishtar, lion, mesopotamia, mesopotamian, monument, monuments, national, nebuchadnezzar, neo-babylonian, palm, palms, pinned, plain, power, protector, prowess, ruling, soldiers, standing, state, statue, symbol, tourists, trees, world
