The Didyma Sculptures: statue
- Gallery: Room 13
- Culture: East Greek
- Date: 600BC (circa)
- Object type: statue
- Materials: marble
- Museum number: 1859,1226.11
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you stands a striking marble statue of a recumbent lion, crafted in East Greek artistic tradition around 600 BC. The lion lies relaxed on a base, its head turned slightly to the left. One paw rests on the ground, while the other overlaps it, suggesting a calm and deliberate pose. The tail curves upwards behind the body, and the spine is boldly emphasized in an angular style.
The mane is rendered with stylized, pointed locks of hair, neatly cut along a straight line, showing a blend of natural observation and artistic abstraction. You'll notice a boustrophedon (zigzag) inscription carved into the lion’s left flank, detailing that the statue was a dedicated offering to Apollo by several named individuals.
The statue was found on the Sacred Way at Didyma, and its weathered back reveals long ago wear and additional marks. This piece offers a rare glimpse into ancient East Greek sculpture and the important role of votive offerings in religious practice.
See it in person
The Didyma Sculptures: statue is on display in Room 13 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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