Carved Lion's Head

by Scan The World

The excavators of Carchemish found numerous bases for statues, altars and basins decorated with bulls or lions. This basalt lion's head was one of a pair of lions that originally formed part of an elaborate statue base. The statue, perhaps of a deity, once stood beside the 'Lion's Gate' of Carchemish. The lions were held by a griffin demon whose hand can be seen on the left of this head.