Head of a Snarling Lion in the Brooklyn Museum, January 2010

Dress Ornament

The Achaemenid rulers of ancient Persia favored images of lions with their mouths open in a snarl or roar. On these gold jewelry elements they are shown complete or as heads only, in both fairly realistic and highly decorative forms. The gold head of a bull, another dangerous animal, seems almost placid in comparison. The pin decorated with an ibex, or wild mountain goat (no. 6) was used to fasten garments.

This text refers to these objects: 70.142.6; 70.142.7; 70.142.8; 70.142.10; 70.142.11; 1998.25

Medium: Gold

Possible Place Made: Ecbatana (modern day Hamadan), Persia (modern day Iran)

Dates: 6th-5th century B.C.E.

Period: Persian Achaemenid

Dimensions: 1 7/8 x 1/16 x 2 5/16 in. (4.7 x 0.2 x 5.9 cm)

Collections: Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Museum Location: This item is on view in Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, Ancient Middle Eastern Art, The Hagop Kevorkian Gallery, 3rd Floor

Accession Number: 70.142.11

Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair Bradley Martin

Text from: www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/96780/Dress...