Lion-man

This is a replica of the Löwenmensch, the Lion-man figurine (or Lion Man of Stadel) is an ivory sculpture discovered in 1939 in the Hohlenstein-Stadel cave in Germany.

 

This artifact is one of the oldest known examples of figurative art, dating to about 40,000 years ago.

 

The original is in the Museum Ulm in Germany.

 

This replica is in the Museum of Human Evolution (MEH) in Burgos, Spain.

 

It must be one of the most extraordinary pieces of art of all time.

 

The imagination and creativity and sense of unknown cultural significance is amazing. It is not some realistic representation of an animal, but instead depicts an imagined hybrid between a human being and a cave lion. The first known example in art history of art of the imagination.

 

I found it very contemplative/profound to stare at it and imagine its original significance and role all these millennia later. A message in a sculpture that we can only try to decypher but connects our minds and culture with those from people so long ago.

 

For the 125 pictures in 2025 group: number 61. Message in a picture

 

 

Museum of Human Evolution Burgos (Spanish: Museo de la Evolución Humana - MEH)

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