Caminando En Círculos

Large Cache of Embalming Materials Discovered in Egypt:

Incredibly intact medieval wall painting from the 14th century. Found at the chapel in Farleigh Hungerford Castle

The Navajo have a unique tradition. When a baby is born, it is regarded as the ultimate, precious gift and must never be abused. From the moment of birth, the child is watched over continuously by family and friends, who patiently wait for the child’s first…laugh.

“Has your baby laughed?” is common question posed to parents who have infants around the age of three months. The first laugh of a Navajo child is a very significant event. It marks the child’s final passing from the spirit world to the physical world, meaning he or she is now fully human. This milestone warrants a party, and what a party it is!

Whichever brother, sister, parent, cousin, aunt, uncle, or passing acquaintance is present at the first laugh is deemed to have caused it.  The laughter instigator then receives the honored privilege of preparing a special ceremony to welcome the child into society.

Once a baby has laughed, training in generosity begins immediately—a value held in high regard among the Navajo people. At the party, where the baby is considered the host, the parents or person responsible for the first laugh help hold the baby’s hand as he or she ceremonially gives the rock salt, food, and gifts to each guest. There are also bags of candy, money, and other presents that the child “gives” along with the food. [x]

As you'll notice in the list below, sculptors loved lions. Though I only include ancient statues here, there are many modern, too (e.g. Luncerne Lion). Lions have always been symbolizing power and strength, as they're the king of the animal kindgom. Having this in mind, it's no surprise that lions have had many different usages: funerary monuments, religious statues, political symbols.

Lion Of Kea (600 BC): this colossal statue lies on the island of Kea. There are similar colossal statues of the same era in other islands of Cyclades, but I have no knowledge of another depicting an animal. What increases the mystery around the Kea Lion is that there are only a few sources about it! Even the myths are unclear; either the Nymphs were driven from Parnassos to Kea because of a lion either they found refugee in Karystos running away from a lion in Kea. The absense of the Nymphs caused drought (which is a reality for Cyclades even today) until people built a temple to honor Zeus, so it rained and the Nymphs returned. Could this mean that there were once lions in Kea island that terrified the people? Can this lion be a reminder of that danger? Nonetheless, Kea Lion seems tranquil and smiles friendly in archaic fashion, almost like the "lion that sleeps tonight near the peaceful village..."

Source: ancientworldmagazine.com, greeka.com

Lion of Sacred Gate, Kerameikos, mid-6th century BC: this lion was found under the Sacred Way close to the Sacred Gate Of Kerameikos, since it was used as construction material in order to control the river of Eridanos. It wasn't uncommon for old funerary monuments to be used that way serving the needs of the city. What makes this lion unique is that the artist chose to depict it calm and harmless, not terrifying at all. Could this mean that the deceased whose the grave it guarded was as kind-hearted and altruistic as this lion? Or it's simply a result of the archaic smile which was quite popular back then?

Source: ΚΕΡΑΜΕΙΚΟΣ, Ίδρυμα Λάτση, Ελένη Σ. Μπάνου & Λεωνίδας Κ. Μπούρνιας, σελ110-111

Lions Of Delos (600-550 BC): one of the most impressive sights of archaeological beauty in Greece, the Terrace Of Lions hosts 5 well-preserved lions and 3 in remnants out of the 12 or 16 who originally stood there (-a headless one was taken by Venetians and now adorns the Arsenal Palace in Venice). Delos Lions stretch as if they're roaring in order to inspire divine fear to the worshippers heading to the Temple Of Apollo, as they have a role similar to the Sphinxes in Egypt. Having been dedicated by the people of Naxos to the sanctuary, the lions face the east towards the Sacred Lake where Apollo is said to have been born. No matter the damages they have endured through the centuries, Delos Lions are still able to convey a sense of awe and admiration to anyone who sees them, almost like Apollo's spirit hasn't still left the island.

Sources: joyofmuseums.com, brown.edu.com, hellenicaworld.com, atlasobscura.com

Lion Of Loutraki (570-560 BC): it might seem strange, but ancient statues were painted! Based on traces of color preserved on the statue, Nye Carlsberg Glyptotek created a colored version of it for an exhibition presenting how ancient statues really were. What's stranger, though, is how much "tacky" the colored result seems to the modern eye; and that's because we are used to consider "beautiful" anything that fits the classic standards of elegance delivered to us by the ancient artifacts which are usually bleached-out. Moreover, Loutraki Lion actually had an identical partner. Despite not knowing where exactly they stood, it's possible they were on the top of funerary columns or pillars or even on a funerary tumulus or building.

Sources: Honouring The Dead In Peloponesse, University Of Nottigham, Georgia Kokorou-Alevras, pg 274-5/ worldhistoryencyclopedia.org, theglassmagazine.com

Lions of Kerameikos (the lion on the top dates in the 6th century BC, while the other in the 4th BC): two lions crouching, ready to attack to anyone who's going to disturb the eternal peacefulness of the dead they guard. That's a quite common depiction of lions, especially when they work as funerary monuments. According to Latsis Foundation, grave lions resemble "Cerberus on earth".

The Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, in Guangxi, southern China.

The Helan Kou Valley carvings, north of China.

Kakadu National Park, Australia.

Saimaluu Tash, Kyrgyzstan.

Gobustan, Azerbaijan.