The Guardian
Description
Lion-headed beings have been part of humanity’s myths and religions from the very earliest days. The oldest known depiction is over 32,000 years old and is probably the oldest surviving piece of sculpture. Echoes of that image have stayed with us and can be found in Babylon, in Egypt, in the religion of Mithras so popular in ancient Rome, and even in the lion-headed angel Ariel.
The Guardian is approximately 12.5 inches (31cm) tall and weighs approximately 1Kg.
Your Guardian is one of 272 and comes with it's own certificate of authenticity.
Inspiration
The starting point for The Guardian was an image carved from mammoth ivory over 30,000 years ago. When it was discovered in 1939 it was very badly damaged and there was some uncertainly as to whether it was male or female. Mythology gives us examples of lion-headed men and women to choose from but I believe this one was male. The existence of several more prehistoric lion-man figures show that he wasn’t a one off, and I’m fascinated by the way the image has continued to appear in cultures separated by enormous distances and lengths of time.
Mostly because of the universal nature of the subject matter, I didn’t want to tie myself down to basing my sculpture on any that had gone before. I wanted him to reflect all of them, and the best way to do that was to interpret the image in my own way. My only concession is that I’ve deliberately not given him a big mane as a reference to the cave lions that must have influenced the first artists to depict him.
Shipping & delivery
This item will be posted to you by Eolith Designs within 3 days of receiving payment.
| Shipping destination | Cost | Additional items |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £10.00 | |
| Rest of the World | £25.00 |
Returns Policy
You have 7 days, from receipt, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item.
Please note: Unless faulty, the following types of items are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements; personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken.