Rams, Lions, and Royal Ladies

 

A tiny golden ram and a stone lion were found in a tomb at the Gonur Depe archaeological site (2400-1600 B.C.) in Turkmenistan. Gonur Depe, a bronze age town, was discovered in 1972.

Among the early Hebrew the sun, copper, coiled snakes, the celestial bull or ram, horns cradling the sun, twin lions, inner sanctums, east-facing temples, solar boats, winged solar orbs, relic boxes such as the Ark of the Covenant, and green stones were associated with the High God and his son HR (Horus in Greek). In ancient Egyptian HR means "Most High One".

Some Hebrew clans are associated with the lion. The title given to Messiah - "The Lion of Judah" - notes that Jesus is a descendant of Judah. In Genesis 49:9, Jacob refers to his son Judah as Gur Aryeh גּוּר אַרְיֵה יְהוּדָה, a "young lion". Jesus also is related to Shobal whose animal totem was the lion, fierce in its youthful strength. Shobal was one of the Horite Hebrew chiefs named in the Genesis 36 ruler list.

Lions were a symbol of royal authority in the Ancient Near East. They often appear on ancient royal steles. Even today lions appear on the heraldry of noble and royal houses. The lion was the totem of the clan of Judah, a son of the Hebrew ruler Jacob, and a lion appears on the Jerusalem coat of arms.

Royal Ladies?

Excavations at Gonur in the ancient delta of the Murghab River revealed a unique polychrome painting at the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex. It was found in an unusual grave at Gonur 20. 

Also found at the site are a group of seated female figures wearing robes of green chlorite or steatite. The heads are of white limestone. Among the dispersed Hebrew, green stones, especially malachite, were associated with the High God and Horus.

Among the Horite Hebrew green malachite represented new life and the hope of resurrection. The land of the blessed dead was described as the "field of malachite." Green stones were associated with Horus, whose animal totem was the falcon. The Book of the Dead speaks of how the deceased will become a falcon "whose wings are of green stone" (chapter 77). The protective Eye of Horus amulet was made of green stone. The Ancient Pyramid Texts speak of Horus as the "Lord of the green stone" (Utterance 301).

Related reading: "Seated Female" (Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex); The Sky Bull as a Messianic Image; Ram Symbolism in the Ancient World