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The Lion Lady - Die Lowenfrau

The Lion Lady from Hohlenstein-Stadel. Height 28 cm, about 6 cm diameter. Made of mammoth ivory. Found in the cave of Hohlenstein-Stadel in the Valley of Lone, Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany), in 1931. Dated as Aurignacian, in a 32 000 year old level.

Although this is known in some places as the lion lady, it is by no means certain that it is female. It is known as both Die Lowenfrau and Der Lowenmensch.

The arms bear striations carved into the ivory. Years after the initial discovery the museum officials were presented with an ivory lion muzzle found in the cave. It was a perfect fit. Today it is pieced together from more than 200 tiny pieces. This 'venus' may be an attempt to capture the power of the lion.

http://home.bawue.de/~wmwerner/english/lionlady.html

The original lion lady/man is now in the Ulmer Museum (City Museum of Ulm), but many museums all over the world own a copy.

From:
http://www.museum.ulm.de/sammlungen/loewenmensch.htm

Another version of the Lion Lady/Man. Click on the image for a larger version.

Colour photo from: National Geographic October 1988, photo by Alexander Marshack

Drawing from: Agenda de la Préhistoire 2002 - 2003, a superb diary with excellent illustrations sent to me by Anya. My thanks as always.

Dans l'abri du Höhlenstein-Stadel, dans le Jura souabe (Allemagne), a été découverte cette statuette en ivoire d'un hornme à tête de lion, dans une couche aurignacienne, c'est-à-dire plus on moins contemporaine de la grotte Chauvet.

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This page last modified Monday 13 December 2004

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