DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1118#0174
ORIENTAL VERSION OF LION SEIZING PREY
Oriental
group
con-
trasted
with
Minoan.
Influence
of Cylin-
der types
Sumerian
Versions.
Oriental Group of Lion seizing Quarry contrasted with
Minoan: conditioned by Cylinder Types.
As already observed, this type of the lion seizing his prey has beei
held up to us as the very essence of Oriental symbolism. But the archaeo-
logical results by this time acquired in Egypt and over a wide Oriental
area beyond the Aegean must be taken to show that, while the elements of
hunting scenes can be naturally traced back to a remote epoch,' the fully
developed type of the lion seizing an animal of the chase and bearino- it
down with his whole weight was first perfected by Minoan craftsmen. It
looks, indeed, as if it had been a special achievement of the Cretan seal-
engraver's Art in which we see it led up to by simpler scenes in which hunt-
ing dogs leap down on the neck or back of wild-goats and bring them to
their knees.
Surprising as it may seem, considerable researches into the copious
materials supplied by early Oriental Art—mainly from cylinder-seals but now
augmented by the picturesque subjects presented by the Sumerian inlays from
Ur—in which lions are depicted attacking their quarry, have only been pro-
ductive of negative results.2 Evidence is lacking on that side of this scheme
of the lion actually-
leaping on the back
of its quarry.
The character-
istic cylinder type
of Old Chaldaea
representing the on-
slaught of lions on
their prey depicts
two animals crossing
each other, their
hind-legs resting on the ground and with the head of the carnivore turnec
round and gripping the back of his victim's neck (Fig. 473).
more or less upright or, at most, diagonal attitude of the lion, inheren
the cylinder technique, is also seen in the case of the parallel type *
3 See Ward, Seal Cylinders, &(-, V- **
No. 114. The alternative method "»",
by gripping the jugular vein recurs in J'•
glypticArt. It is seen on two gem types'
in the one case a lion, in the other a Grim ,»
Fig. 473. Early Chaldean Cy-
linder showing Lion attacking
Gazelle.
Fig. 474. Inlay of
Queen Shubad's Toilet
Box: Ur.
' In these researches I am glad to acknow-
ledge the kind assistance of the representa-
tives of the Egyptian and Assyrian Department
of the British Museum.
- Ward, Tlte Seal Cylinders of Western
Asia, p. 62, Fig. 146 (Univ. Penns. Coll.).
the front of a stag's neck from ov<
rhis
head-
Oriental
group
con-
trasted
with
Minoan.
Influence
of Cylin-
der types
Sumerian
Versions.
Oriental Group of Lion seizing Quarry contrasted with
Minoan: conditioned by Cylinder Types.
As already observed, this type of the lion seizing his prey has beei
held up to us as the very essence of Oriental symbolism. But the archaeo-
logical results by this time acquired in Egypt and over a wide Oriental
area beyond the Aegean must be taken to show that, while the elements of
hunting scenes can be naturally traced back to a remote epoch,' the fully
developed type of the lion seizing an animal of the chase and bearino- it
down with his whole weight was first perfected by Minoan craftsmen. It
looks, indeed, as if it had been a special achievement of the Cretan seal-
engraver's Art in which we see it led up to by simpler scenes in which hunt-
ing dogs leap down on the neck or back of wild-goats and bring them to
their knees.
Surprising as it may seem, considerable researches into the copious
materials supplied by early Oriental Art—mainly from cylinder-seals but now
augmented by the picturesque subjects presented by the Sumerian inlays from
Ur—in which lions are depicted attacking their quarry, have only been pro-
ductive of negative results.2 Evidence is lacking on that side of this scheme
of the lion actually-
leaping on the back
of its quarry.
The character-
istic cylinder type
of Old Chaldaea
representing the on-
slaught of lions on
their prey depicts
two animals crossing
each other, their
hind-legs resting on the ground and with the head of the carnivore turnec
round and gripping the back of his victim's neck (Fig. 473).
more or less upright or, at most, diagonal attitude of the lion, inheren
the cylinder technique, is also seen in the case of the parallel type *
3 See Ward, Seal Cylinders, &(-, V- **
No. 114. The alternative method "»",
by gripping the jugular vein recurs in J'•
glypticArt. It is seen on two gem types'
in the one case a lion, in the other a Grim ,»
Fig. 473. Early Chaldean Cy-
linder showing Lion attacking
Gazelle.
Fig. 474. Inlay of
Queen Shubad's Toilet
Box: Ur.
' In these researches I am glad to acknow-
ledge the kind assistance of the representa-
tives of the Egyptian and Assyrian Department
of the British Museum.
- Ward, Tlte Seal Cylinders of Western
Asia, p. 62, Fig. 146 (Univ. Penns. Coll.).
the front of a stag's neck from ov<
rhis
head-