• r2-236-10
    Recumbent lion from Nannas monument, Istanbul Archaeological Museum 4028, shown as excavated by the first Sardis expedtion, front. (Howard Crosby Butler Archive, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University)
  • r2-236-20
    Recumbent lion from Nannas monument, Istanbul Archaeological Museum 4028, shown as excavated by the first Sardis expedtion, back. (Howard Crosby Butler Archive, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University)
  • r2-236-30
    Lion sejant and recumbent lion from Nannas monument, in situ. (Howard Crosby Butler Archive, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University)

Recumbent Lion From Nannas Monument

Report 2: Sculpture from Sardis: The Finds through 1975 (1978) Cat. 236
Date
550-540 BC, Lydian or Late Lydian
Museum
Istanbul, Archaeological Museum, 4028
Museum Inventory No.
4028
Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
IAM 4028
Material
Marble, Stone
Object Type
Sculpture
Sculpture Type
Animal, Lion
Site
Sardis
Sector
AT
Trench
AT
Locus
AT Nannas Monument
Findspot
Artemis Precinct, found lying at end of largest pedestal and against smaller one of Nannas monument. It was lying across the short end with feet projecting over the edge (Sardis I, 126 and Shear, Lion, 127, figs. 2, 4, where the lion is restored lying lengthwise on the rectangular, larger, base; cf. Fig. 407, looking E). For Nannas base and reuse by Romans cf. Cat. 274 (Figs. 465-466) and Sardis R1, 62, 64, 68.
Description

On a plinth with forepaws extended in front, the lion has its head turned to the l. with the mouth wide open and tongue protruding. The eyes are hollow for inlay, the ears fairly close to the head. The mane is arranged in leaf-like locks, many ending in a small knob; from the back it resembles a kerchief with fringe. The massive forms of the body are smooth and not highly articulated. The tail is looped up and over the proper l. haunch. The piece is apparently by a different hand than Cat. 235 (Figs. 405-406).

Shear drew the persuasive comparison with the Corinthian lions from Loutraki (Gabelmann, Lowenbild, pl. 8, no. 58). Gabelmann has pointed out the differences -the short "back mane" and the Assyrianizing arrangement of the mane and locks. He thought that the golden lion of Croesus in Delphi (Herodotus 1.50) might be envisaged in this posture and pointed out that the inlaid eyes of the Sardis lion are unusual and perhaps conditioned by the imitation of metal technique (cf. also the gold lions, Sardis XIII, no. 86, pl. 8). In the reconstruction proposed by Elderkin (Golden Lion, 1ff., fig. 1) the Delphi lion does not turn his head. A date around mid-6th C. is confirmed by the Loutraki lions. Gabelmann dated the Nannas lion ca. 540 B.C.

Condition

Marble.

Muzzle and l. forepaw damaged.

Dimensions
L. 1.22; H. 0.65.
Comments
See Also
Bibliography
Published: Sardis I, 127, fig. 138; H. C. Butler, Fourth Campaign, 474f., fig. 4; Shear, Lion, 127ff., figs. 1, 5, 11, 16; Akurgal, Kunst Anatoliens, 279, fig. 245; von Gall, Felsgraber, 588f., fig. 4; Gabelmann, Lowenbild, 82f., 84, 89, 119, no. 109.
Author
NHR

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