Assad Allah

[Jim McDougall]

Interesting perception Ward ! It does seem that these lion figures were quite often seen symbolically in ancient art, and it is especially interesting that this Roman example is found in Tunisia. In an article on this topic from the New York Times ("Imperial Nights in Tunisia With Mythology Underfoot", Geraldine Fabrikant, 4/11/07), it is noted that North Africans by legal statute were granted advantageous status and compensation for adhering to values of Roman civilization. Wealthy Tunisians tried to imitate Roman culture and art and had lavish floor mosaics put in thier homes. The lion seems to have been a popular theme.

The Romans during these times were heavily influenced by the Sassanid Empire of Persia, and it is interesting that in some cases the golden lion had been adopted as a standard device by prominant figures. It would seem possible that the lion figure may have found its way to North Africa via the Romans and possibly from Sassanian influence.

In the outstanding article by Oliver Pinchot, "The Persian Shamshir and the Signature of Assad Allah" ("Arms Collecting" Vol.40, #1, Feb. 2002) footnote 42, notes, "...the Shir e Khorshid, or Lion and Sun, became the Qajar dynastic crest, in emulation of European models, and remained the Persian state emblem until recently. The lion was also an important icon in pre-Islamic Persia".
In the article, it is further noted that the use of the lion pictogram became popular during the increased volume production of trade blades during the Qajar era to allude to the Assad Allah signature, and more commercially superceding the typical cartouches with makers name incised and inlaid with gold or brass.

The image of this lion from North Africa does show a marked similarity to the Persian Shir e Khorshid, and in degree to the Ethiopian Lion of Judah, as well as European heraldic lions, and beautifully illustrates the diffusion of artistic symbolism through historic times.

Thank you so much for posting this Ward!

All the best,
Jim