In Mesopotamia, lions symbolized chaos, threatening civilization, while kings showcased their strength and divine authority by taming these wild forces through hunts and art.
Lion hunts were reserved for kings, seen as a public demonstration of maintaining order, where kings acted as role models against the chaos represented by lions.
Through statuary and reliefs, lions depicted the king's dominance over chaos, confirming his royal authority and divine protection as he neutralized threats to civilization.
Images of lions assured Mesopotamians that their divinely appointed king maintained stability; the lion became a symbol of royal power and the fight against disorder.
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