Right Guardian Lion

3D Model

Angkor period, c. 11th-13th century
Sandstone
Gift of the John Young Foundation
John Young Museum of Art, 1998
(1998.1.94)

The placement of guardian animals outside a Cambodian (or Khmer) temple is typical throughout the Angkor period. Animals depicted with open jaws, alert postures, and an unwavering stare would have served an apotropaic (guardian) function, manifesting the temple’s power and averting evil forces. While the naga seen at the beginning of this exhibition would have adorned one of the balustrades that flanked a temple’s causeways, lions such as the two you see here, would have always occurred in pairs flanking staircases and entrances to temples.