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When we think of a sphinx, the first thing that comes to mind is the Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt. The mythical creature is one of the most fascinating figures in human civilization. In Egyptian and Greek folklore, it is a human-lion hybrid with supernatural powers.
But there were many other human-lion figures in the ancient world.
The Greeks, the Hittites, the Persians, and the Indians all had their versions of humans with lion’s bodies. But have you wondered what does the Sphinx stand for? Why was it so popular in ancient times? Was it the first attempt by humans to imagine hybridization and genetic engineering? Or was there any religious significance to it?
While it is impossible to determine the Sphinx's actual meaning, we may have a hint if we go back in time and look at the first human-lion figure we have unearthed.
How far back in time must we go?
At least 35,000 years ago! That is the age of the oldest known human-lion figure.
When I first heard about this incredible find, I immediately thought, “What made ancient people think of a human-animal hybrid that they couldn’t have encountered?” Before discussing the prehistoric lion-man's meaning, let’s learn more about its discovery.
Discovery of the earliest known human-lion figure
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In 1937, German archaeologists led by Robert Wetzel began excavating the Hohlenstein-Stadel cave in Swabia, Germany. Two years later, on August 25, 1939, geologist Otto Völzing discovered a unique figurine.
It was a fractured mammoth ivory sculpture.
The archaeologists could not continue their investigation a week later, with the outbreak of World War II. They tucked the figurine away in a corner of the stockroom at the nearby Ulm Museum.
Wetzel resumed the excavations after the war, and more mammoth ivory fragments were discovered. Archaeologists could reconstruct the figure in 1987, exhibiting feline traits with a human lower body.
The researchers named it Löwenmensch or the lion-man.
Excavations continued, and they completed another restoration in 2012, raising the figure’s height from 296 to 311 millimeters. Radiocarbon dating of the statue put it between 35,000 to 40,000 years old.
When you look at the figure, you will notice a human lower body with a lion’s face but no mane. This first led experts to conclude the lion was a female lion.
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However, after radiocarbon dating, they confirmed it belonged to an era in Europe’s history, the Upper Paleolithic Period (50,000 BP to 12,000 BP), when the Eurasian cave lion was common. The cave lion was much bigger than a modern lion and lacked a mane. There was much discussion regarding the figure’s gender, but in 2013, archaeologists found a triangular platelet resembling male genitals attached to the Löwenmensch.
Now that the gender debate is settled let’s discuss what the lion-man represents. The clues may lie in other objects found in the cave. Archaeologists unearthed bone tools, antlers, pendants, beads, and jewelry made of animal bones in the same cave where they discovered the lion-man.
What were the ancient people trying to say with this human-lion hybrid?
Interpretations of the lion-man
In 2008, archaeologists found another lion-man statue at the Hohle Fels cave in Swabia, Germany. Along with this lion-man figure, an intriguing find was that of flutes made from animal bones.
If we compare this finding with the previous lion-man from Hohlenstein-Stadel, we can conclude that the lion-man figures had religious importance. They belonged to a shamanistic cult.
According to archaeologist Nicholas Conard:
The occupants of Hohle Fels in the Ach Valley and Hohlenstein-Stadel in the Lone Valley must have been members of the same cultural group and shared beliefs and practices connected with therianthropic images of felids and humans” and that “the discovery of a second Löwenmensch lends support to the hypothesis that Aurignacian people practised a form of shamanism.
Archaeologists have found other human-animal hybrids in France with human-like lower bodies and animal heads. This shows that shaman cults were prominent among Europe’s prehistoric people.
At this point in history, humans knew how to make clothes, jewelry, tools for hunting, and music. They also spoke languages to communicate. Despite being underdogs with little chance of survival, humans showed adaptability.
But they were still in awe of nature.
The strong Eurasian cave lion captivated them. It could kill someone in seconds, and its power was almost mystical to ancient people.
As a result, the cave lion is a crucial component of an early belief system. Since humans regarded lions as the apex predators, the lion’s importance has remained unchanged over the years.
In the past, hunting rituals focused on taming the lion. Hunters across social classes took great pride in lion hunts. It was a show of strength, humans pushing their boundaries to conquer a predator they had nothing but admiration for.
This strong respect for the lion must have matured into reverence. It is a one-of-a-kind divine creature.
That is why, even now, lions continue to play a significant part in several world faiths, including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
This respect for the lion resulted in people imagining mythical creatures that were hybrids of humans and lions. These creatures had the best of both worlds: a lion’s strength and a human’s wisdom.
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The Sphinx in Greek mythology is a destroyer of bad luck.
Narasimha, a lion-man avatar of Lord Vishnu, is revered in Hinduism. Narasimha rips apart the feared demon Hiranyakashipu, who had terrorized the world. According to a boon, a human could not slay the monster. Hiranyakashipu was unbeatable both during the day and at night. He couldn’t be slain on the land, sea, or air. He couldn’t be killed with a weapon, either.
Narasimha rips Hiranyakashipu apart during twilight with his claws after placing him on his thigh. Thus, a non-human creature kills the demon, satisfying all the conditions of the boon, which has made the demon invincible.
This legend shows why humans imagine human-lion hybrids as divine protectors. Narasimha combines a lion’s superhuman power and a human’s intelligence to overcome a tough challenge.
This idea of a heavenly supernatural entity who can protect us intrigued ancient humans as much as it does us now. The prehistoric lion man from Germany provides important insights into the evolution of religion and the human psyche.
The earliest human-lion hybrid from Germany is part of an ancient belief system that has been lost in time. However, it provides vital clues about why we still revere the lion and why the lion became a central figure in many world religions.
What is your interpretation of this pre-historic statue? Let me know in the comments.
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References.
Ulmer Museum, ed. (2013). The Return of the Lion Man: History — myth — magic. Ostfildern.
“Discovery: 1987”. Löwenmensch: Entdeckung (in German). Museum Ulm.
Conard, Nicholas J. (2003). “Palaeolithic ivory sculptures from southwestern Germany and the origins of figurative art”
Cook, J. (18 February 2013). Ice Age art: Arrival of the modern mind. The British Museum.
I strongly suspect that we'll come to find much earlier examples of therianthropy as archaeology marches on... not that 35,000 years ago isn't already an amazing amount of time to consider.
Wow, super fascinating read! I’m definitely interesting in mythology and stories like this, but have always lacked the time to read much. Really enjoyed this, and well put together!