Lion and lioness at play
Basalt
H: 89; W: 74; D: 25 cm
Israel Antiquities Authority
IAA:
I-3861
Archaeology/Chalcolithic & Canaanite Periods
Canaanite art in this period consisted mainly of small-scale stone sculptures, ivory and bone carvings, pottery and metal figurines, and seals and jewelry. The works reflect a fusion of foreign and Canaanite elements executed in the local artistic style.This basalt relief, which stood in a large building at Beth Shean, is one of the few monumental stone-carvings of the period. It is outstanding example of Canaanitenarrative art - story-telling in pictures
From the Israel Museum publications:
Chronicles of the Land, Archaeology in the Israel Museum Jerusalem, Dayagi-Mendels Michal, and Rozenberg, Silvia (eds.), The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 2010
