Amazing ‘Guennol Lioness’ – One Of The Greatest Ancient Works Of Art Of All Time
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - This amazing lioness-woman sculpture is considered one of the oldest artifacts of Mesopotamia. The so-called 'Guennol Lioness' is believed to have been created circa 3000-2800 BC by a skilled Elamite artist.
The Elamites and their kingdom Elan were the ancient Pre-Iranian Civilization that lasted from about 2700 to 550 and occupied the present-day province of Khuzestan, in southwestern Iran. Susa was Elam’s capital and the Elamite cultural identity dates back to the foundation of Susa around 4000 BC.
A tiny limestone figurine - once part of Alastair and Edith Martin's Guennol Collection - is 8.3cm (3.25in) tall and is one of many, similar anthropomorphic carvings depicting ancient Near East deities.
The ancient anthropomorphic carving - a wonderful combination of animal and human features - was discovered at a site near Baghdad, at approximately 3000 BC.
The sculptor of this masterwork is - unknown.
At that time, the Mesopotamians already invented the wheel, developed writing, and created the world's first cities with gigantic architecture.
The ancient anthropomorphic carving - merging animal and human features - was discovered at a site near Baghdad, at approximately 3000 BC. Credits: Sotheby's New York
A tiny limestone figurine, which was once part of Alastair and Edith Martin's Guennol Collection, is 8.3cm (3.25in) tall and is one of many, similar anthropomorphic carvings depicting ancient Near East deities.
The ' Guennol Lioness' represents the Mesopotamian belief in attaining power over the physical world by combining the superior physical attributes of various strong and powerful species.
The figurine is a "brilliant combination of animal form and human pose", as it was described by many experts.
The 'Guennol Lioness' was sold at auction for $57m (£28m) (!), almost double the previous record price for a sculpture.
On December 5, 2007, the beautiful piece of art was sold to an anonymous British bidder for $57m (£28m) (!), almost double the previous record price for a sculpture setting a world record (this record has since been broken) for antiquity sold through an auction house.
The purchaser of the 'Guennol Lioness' was anonymous. Today, nobody knows the artifact's location and thus, this priceless historical item is not available to the public.
The statuette was owned by a private collector named Martin Family (Guennol, pronounced GWEN-ol, is Welsh for Martin), who loaned the item on trust to Brooklyn Museum, where the item was on view for nearly 60 years. The piece was acquired by Alastair Bradley Martin and his wife Edith in 1948 from Joseph Brummer, the New York art dealer and collector, who had allegedly come to possess the figure in 1931.
The Guennol Lioness is a very beautiful and certainly very unique piece of art created by the Elamite people who left in legacy a wide variety of works of art.
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Pharaoh Ay – A Man With A Hidden Agenda Or A Victim Of Unfortunate Circumstances?
Featured Stories | Feb 5, 2019
-
Why Did Sages And Shamans Repeatedly Visit The Mysterious Finnish Pirunkirkko Cave (Devil’s Church)?
Archaeology | Nov 27, 2023
-
Medieval Friars Were ‘Riddled With Parasites,’ Study Finds
Archaeology | Aug 19, 2022
-
A 2,500-Year-Old Planned City In Tarighat, Chhattisgarh, India
Civilizations | Oct 8, 2014
-
2nd Century Inscription Unearthed At Forum Of Ancient City Of Philippopolis, Bulgaria
Archaeology | Oct 21, 2019
-
On This Day In History: The Battle Of Actium – Sep 2, 31 BC
News | Sep 2, 2016
-
Last Of The Giant Camels And Archaic Humans Lived Together In Mongolia Until 27,000 Years Ago
Fossils | Mar 24, 2022
-
Ancient Tomb Of Maya Ruler Te’ Chan Ahk Discovered In Guatemala
News | Sep 14, 2017
-
Beautiful Viking Uig Chessmen Recreated In 3D Images
Archaeology | Sep 17, 2019
-
Pax Assyriaca: Important Time For The Neo Assyrian Empire And Surrounding Regions
Ancient History Facts | Aug 11, 2016
-
Legend Of The Blue Men Of Minch: Were They Mythological Creatures Or Real Men?
Featured Stories | May 13, 2016
-
2,000-Year-Old Measuring Table With Stone Weights Unearthed In Jerusalem
Archaeology | Jan 16, 2020
-
Viking Age silver coins unearthed in Jutland
Artifacts | Aug 27, 2015
-
Mysterious Disappearance Of King Aegeus Of Athens After His Wedding
Featured Stories | Aug 1, 2022
-
Osiris: Enigmatic And Powerful God In Ancient Egypt
Egyptian Mythology | Jun 13, 2017
-
Relics From Day-To-Day Life At Shakespeare’s Home – Now Shown In New Virtual Exhibition
Archaeology | Dec 11, 2020
-
Curtana – Sword Of Mercy Once Belonged To The Anglo-Saxon King Edward The Confessor And Perhaps Even The Arthurian Hero Tristan
Artifacts | Jul 16, 2017
-
Humanity’s Earliest Recorded Kiss Occurred In Mesopotamia 4,500 Years Ago – New Study
Archaeology | May 18, 2023
-
10 Divine Weapons Of The Gods
Featured Stories | Jul 28, 2015
-
1,800-Year-Old Relief Of Mythological Satyr Figure Under Restoration
Artifacts | Sep 5, 2020