The Prudhoe Lions: statue
- Gallery: Room 4
- Culture: 18th Dynasty; Meroitic
- Date: 1390BC - 1352 BC (circa)
- Object type: statue
- Materials: red granite
- Museum number: EA2
- 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 is "The Prudhoe Lions," a striking red granite statue from the 18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. This lion is shown in a resting posture, turned on its side with its front paws crossed and one hind paw delicately positioned beneath the other. The sculpture blends stylized elements, like the circular mane surrounding the head, with a realistic portrayal of the body, including realistic jawbones and detailed textures on the fur.
Look closely at the carving: deep grooves mark the folds of the paws, while bold lines suggest strong musculature on the rump and ribs along the sides. Original inscriptions suggest this statue was once dedicated to Amenhotep III.
Later additions include texts referencing Tutankhamun and the Kushite ruler Amanislo, showing how this statue was repurposed and honored many times over centuries.
See it in person
The Prudhoe Lions: statue is on display in Room 4 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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