Egyptian Feline at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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This imposing figure must surely have stood guard at the entrance to a sacred refuge. The most powerful predator of the steppe bordering the Nile Valley, the lion had long been a revered symbol of royalty since the dawn of Egypt's earliest rulers (around 3200-3100 B.C.). The animal embodied various important deities, such as Sakhmet, the fiery goddess of war and pestilence, and served as a guardian of temples and palaces. The sculpture showcases all the distinctive features of early Old Kingdom art and iconography: the lion's tail is slung high up over its right haunch, the outlines of its ears continue directly into the mane around its face, and the heavy body of the animal is barely separated from the granite mass of the base. Excavated at Herakleopolis Magna, south of the Fayum oasis, this sculpture is the earliest surviving lion image of monumental size when found intact. When discovered, only the front of the muzzle was missing; it has now been meticulously restored. This incredible object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, aiming to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, simply email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.