Lion of Babylon

Ancient Babylonian symbol

The Lion of Babylon is an ancient Babylonian symbol.^[1]

History

The Lion of Babylon symbolically represented the King of Babylon.^[1]

The depiction is based on the Mesopotamian lion, which used to roam in the region.^{[citation needed]}

It represents Ishtar, goddess of fertility, love, and war.^{[citation needed]}

The lion featured as the dexter supporter on the coat of arms of Iraq from 1932–1959.^{[citation needed]}

Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Iraq 1932-1959 depicting the lion as the dexter supporter
Lion of Babylon statue, built c. 6th century BCE and rediscovered in 1876 CE, Iraq

^ ^a ^b Benjamin Sass, Joachim Marzahn. Aramaic and figural stamp impressions on bricks of the sixth century B.C. from Babylon. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 2010. Pp. 181-182.

Ancient Mesopotamia

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