Lion of Babylon (statue)
| Lion of Babylon | |
|---|---|
| Material | Basalt |
| Height | 1 meter |
| Created | c. 1595 BC |
| Discovered | before 1818 Hillah, Babylon, Iraq |
| Discovered by | Claudius Rich or Joseph Beauchamp |
| Present location | Hillah, Babylon, Iraq |
Lion of Babylon is a stone sculpture, over 3,600 years old, that was found in the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq. Its discovery was first documented in 1817 by Claudius Rich, although it may have been seen as early as 1790 by Joseph de Beauchamp.
The statue may have been commissioned by the Chaldean Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, but most experts now believe it is of Hittite origin, made during a Hittite occupation of the city.