The discovery of a statue of a mythical creature from the first century AD that combines an eagle and a lion
The Sharjah Antiquities Authority announced the discovery of a new archaeological piece in the Maliha area of the Emirate of Sharjah, according to what the Emirates News Agency, WAM, reported on Sunday.
The piece is a bronze statue representing a mythical creature with a large eagle’s wing, a lion’s head, and a huge bird’s leg with strong claws. It dates back to the time of the Roman Empire in the first century AD.
The presence of this statue in the Mleiha area in Sharjah indicates the existence of great trade between the Mleiha region and former ancient empires, as the shape of this legendary creature was depicted in many Roman works of art that were used in architecture, decorations, wall panels, furniture, and jewelry.
Mythical creatures are considered part of religious beliefs and worship in Greek times since the fifth century BC, according to the agency.
The artifact is part of an incense burner bearing 3 statues similar in shape, distributed in a symmetrical circular shape, and topped with a large, luxurious bowl used for burning incense. This is one of the cosmetic decorations that were used at the time.
Source: websites