Panel: Striding Lion.Panel: Striding Lion, 604-562 BC. Neo-Babylonian period, reign of Nebuchadnezzer II. Excavated at Wall of Processional Way, abylon, Mesopotamia, Glazed glazen. 1. A thin smooth shiny coating. 2. A thin glassy coating of ice. 3. a. A coating of colored, opaque, or transparent material applied to ceramics before firing. b. brick, 38 1/4" (97 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Fletcher fund, 1931 (31.13.2). During the reign of Nebuchadnezzer II, the Neo-Babylonian Empire The term Neo-Babylonian or Chaldean refers to Babylonia under the rule of the 11th ("Chaldean") dynasty, from the revolt of Nabopolassar in 626 BC until the invasion of Cyrus the Great in 539 BC, notably including the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. reached its height. The power of the ruler was reflected in the architectural splendor Splendor Aladdin’s palace built of marble, gold, silver, and jewels. [Arab. Lit.: Arabian Nights] Alhambra the palatial 13th-century Moorish citadel in Granada, noted for its lofty situation, beautiful courts, and fountains. of Babylon, the capital city. Stone was rare in southern Mesopotamia so the buildings were often constructed of molded glazed bricks. The walls and city gates were richly decorated dec·o·rate tr.v. dec·o·rat·ed, dec·o·rat·ing, dec·o·rates 1. To furnish, provide, or adorn with something ornamental; embellish. 2. with relief figures of animals, real and mythological myth·o·log·i·cal also myth·o·log·ic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or recorded in myths or mythology. 2. Fabulous; imaginary. myth , in white, black, red, blue, and yellow. The effect was one of monumentality and brilliant color. The most important street in Babylon was the Processional Way, a spectacular thorough-fare flanked by walls decorated with glazed figures of striding lions, symbol of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war. This relief of a lion (one of a pair in the Metropolitan Museum's collection) served to protect the street and evoke the power of the goddess. Its repeated design served as a guide for the ritual processions that took place on the Processional Way. Activity Ask the students the following: What does the lion symbolize in our time? Where do you find images of lions? Can you think of a building in your city that has lions (or other animals) at the entrance? If you were to design a building, what animal would you use to mark the entrance? Draw the entrance to your building and explain why you selected the animals you did. Felicia Blum, associate museum educator, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. |
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