Reclining lion

Reclining lion

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This lion is at rest, but remains alert with its large heavy head turned to face the viewer. Pairs of lions like this might flank temple entrances. Associated with royalty, lions suggest powerful forces that protect the gods and temples.

Egyptian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Met collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 30,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from about 300,000 BCE to the 4th century CE. A signifcant percentage of the collection is derived from the Museum's three decades of archaeological work in Egypt, initiated in 1906 in response to increasing interest in the culture of ancient Egypt.