Seated lion statuette. Urartian, 2nd half of 8th century BC.
Ivory. Height 10 cm. Width 4,8 cm.
From Altıntepe (nearby Erzincan). Excavated in the gallery of the temple, close to the main entrance.
The work is naturalistically treated and displays very fine workmanship.
The mane, depicted with incised lozenges, was originally plated with gold leaf.
Rectangular dowel hole in the base indicates that the lion was used as a decorative element in another object.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: ‘Land of Civilizations, Turkey’ – Catalogue of the Fukuoka Exhibition (Japan), 1985.