The permanent exhibition of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Seal stone representing a lion and tamers
This seal stone in the shape of a flattened cylinder set in gold is an outstanding example of Minoan Neopalatial miniature carving. It depicts a very large lion and two men, possibly hunters or tamers, wearing loin-cloths and head covers. Both men and lion face towards the right and the impressive beast is still, so that the men appear more likely to be its escorts or guards rather than its tamers. The composition and modeling of the figures are fairly lifeless.
Exhibit Features
Date:
Late Bronze Age, 1600-1500 BC
Place of discovery:
Knosos, Isopata grave
Dimensions:
length: 0,02 m
Material:
Gold
Inventory number:
ΑΕ 900
Exhibition hole:
Hall IX
Copyright:
Hellenic Ministry of Culture
Suggestive Bibliography
Ελληνική Τέχνη, Η αυγή της ελληνικής τέχνης, Αθήνα, 1994, αρ. 87 203, 326
