T
he Lion of Babylon is one of the most striking relics uncovered from the ancient city. Rediscovered in the 19th century, the imposing statue is 2.6 metres long and 1.95 metres high (not including its podium) and can be found in its original location near the ruins of Babylon’s Northern Palace (in modern-day Iraq).
It’s believed that the statue dates back 2,600 years, and while some historians originally thought it may have been constructed by Babylon’s ‘great builder’ King Nebuchadnezzar II, it is now more widely accepted that it was actually built by the Hittites, who invaded southern Mesopotamia and sacked Babylon in 1595 BCE.
Though many of the features of the magnificent basalt statue have been lost over the centuries, it’s still apparent that the lion is not alone on its plinth – it’s trampling upon an unfortunate human victim. An emblem of Babylon, the lion appears as a motif on many of the city’s ancient artefacts, including on some of the remaining brick walls. The fearsome creatures were seen as a representation of power and strength and also had strong associations with royalty, as well as the Mesopotamian female deity Ishtar, who played a significant role in Babylonian culture as the most important goddess in their religious pantheon.