The mother of all 'entry way' lion sculpture! These lions date to 1400 B.C. and are located in what is now Turkey in the town of Boghazkoy. It was home to the Hittites and the lions were located at the gates of their fortified city. They were designed to be fierce protectors and scare away threatening peoples. They are made of huge limestone blocks and stand 7 feet high. These lions have been imitated ever since by many empires in antiquity, including Assyria. Any lion sculptures in the doorways of your neighborhood?
"The Babylonian Empire was brought down by the Hittites, an Anatolian people who conquered and sacked Babylon around 1595 B.C. and then retired to their homeland, leaving Babylon in the hands of the Kassites." (Gardner)
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