 Modern impression. This design is also sometimes qualified as a monstrous lioness.Louvre | |
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Country | Ancient Egypt andMesopotamian |
Theserpopard (also known asmonstrous lion) is amythical animal known fromancient Egyptian andMesopotamian art. The word "serpopard" is a modern coinage. It is aportmanteau of "serpent" and "leopard", derived from the interpretation that the creature represents an animal with the body of a leopard and the long neck and head of a serpent. However, they have also been interpreted as "serpent-necked lions". There is no known name for the creature in any ancient texts.
The image is featured specifically on decoratedcosmetic palettes from thePredynastic period of Egypt, and more extensively, as design motifs on cylinder seals in theProtoliterate period of Mesopotamia (circa 3500–3000 BC). Examples include theNarmer Palette and theOxford Palette. The cylinder seal of Uruk (image above) displays the motif very clearly. Typically, two creatures are depicted, with their necks intertwined. They are also occasionally depicted onbirth tusks (also known as amuletic wands). One example is an amuletic wand held in the British Museum's collections.
The image generally is classified as afeline, and with close inspection resembles an unusually long-neckedlioness. It bears the characteristic tuft of the species at the end of the tail, there are no spots, the round-eared head most closely resembles the lioness rather than a serpent, because serpents do not have ears, and there are no typical serpent features such as scales, tongue, orreptilian head shape.[1]
It has been suggested that inAncient Egyptian art the serpopard represents "a symbol of the chaos that reigned beyond Egypt's borders", which the king must tame. They are normally shown conquered or restrained, as in the Narmer Palette, or attacking other animals. But in Mesopotamian art they are shown in pairs, with intertwined necks.[2]
Mesopotamian use of these "serpent-necked lions" and other animals and animal hybrids is seen by some scholars as "manifestations of thechthonic aspect of the god of natural vitality, who is manifest in all life breaking forth from the earth".[3]
Similarly to other ancient peoples, the Egyptians are known for their accurate depictions of the creatures they observed. Their composite creatures have recognizable features of the animals originally representing thosedeities, merged into novel creatures.[citation needed]
Lionesses played an important role in the religious concepts of bothUpper andLower Egypt, and are likely to have been designated as animals associated with protection and royalty. The long necks could be a simple exaggeration, used as a framing feature in an artistic motif, either forming the cosmetic-mixing area, as in the Narmer Palette, or surrounding it, as in the Small Palette.
Depictions of similar fantastic animals also are known fromElam andMesopotamia,[4] as well as many other cultures.
Due to birth tusks being associated with the protection of mother and child during birth or birth ceremonies,[5] serpopards are thought to play a role in this protection.[6]
Additionally, it has been suggested that serpopards form a barrier of protection between the netherworld and the human world.[7] On some palettes, such as theNarmer Palette, their necks border the circle in which makeup would have been mixed. Since this makeup would have been applied to statues of deities or pharaohs, the makeup may have had to been upheld to a certain standard and protected to ensure quality.[7]
