Ancient Egyptian faience amulet of a lion.

Lying as a sphinx on plinth.

Very nice facial features

On its back a suspension loop hole

Size: 3,7 cm

Period: Late Period, c. 664 – 332 B.C.

Material: Faience

Provenance: Collection Dos and Bertie Winkel

Price : € 1750,—

The reclining lion could be seen as a guardian figure since the ancient Egyptians believed that two lions guarded the horizons where the sun rose and set.

The lion was seen as a symbol of bravery and courage, traits that were highly valued in ancient

Egyptian society, especially in the context of warfare and hunting.

Lions were often associated with the pharaohs, symbolizing their dominance and power over the land.

The lion's fierce nature reflected the authority of the ruler.

The lion's role in the ecosystem as a predator also symbolized the balance of life and death, reflecting the cycle of life, fertility, and regeneration.

Lions were linked to several deities, particularly the goddess Sekhmet, who was depicted as a lioness.

She represented war, healing, and protection, embodying the fierce nature of the lion.