Koptos Lion

myminifactory

The Koptos Lions Sir Flinders Petrie, the first Edwards Professor of Egyptology at University College London, discovered these limestone lions in 1894 within the Great Temple of Min and Isis at Koptos, Upper Egypt. The lions were found by Petrie in a fragmentary condition. Sir Henry Wellcome acquired them in 1927 as part of his contribution to the British School of Archaeology in Egypt's work. They remained in the Wellcome Historical Medical Collection's storage until 1980, when Barbara Adams, Research Curator of the Petrie Museum, rediscovered them. The Wellcome trustees then donated them to College. Richard Jaeschke, a conservator, masterfully rebuilt the lions using bricks and plaster reconstruction based on accurate copies from original limestone fragments. The surface of the limestone is now pitted and worn but was once polished and possibly painted. Petrie found these lions at Koptos on basal clay beneath the Ptolemaic temple's stairway level. Another smaller lion, currently housed in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, was discovered within the same temple area. These lions can be dated to Egypt's Early Dynastic period, likely to the First Dynasty's first part (3100-2890 BC), due to their open mouths and curved tail over the back positions. As such, they are two of the few known early stone lion sculptures from Egypt and the largest, measuring 1.40m in length each. This object is a part of "Scan The World." Scan the World is a non-profit initiative started by MyMiniFactory that aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks worldwide for public access at no cost. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can assist.