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Silk with "Samson" and a Lion

7th–9th century

Not on view

The original vibrant colors of this elegantly woven silk and the similar example from the Byzantine Collection, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C., are indicative of the taste for vivid coloring that pervaded the Byzantine and early Islamic worlds. Multiple examples of this motif of combat between a man and a lion survive and attest to the theme’s continued popularity well into the early Islamic era. The image suggests the classical theme of the battle of Herakles and the Nemean Lion. The silks may also represent the biblical battle of Samson with a lion or that of the youthful king David.

Silk with "Samson" and a Lion, Weft-faced compound twill (samit) in polychrome silk — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Silk with "Samson" and a Lion

Date: 7th–9th century

Geography: Made in Eastern Mediterranean

Medium: Weft-faced compound twill (samit) in polychrome silk

Dimensions: 12 3/16 x 14 in. (31 x 35.6 cm)

Classification: Textiles

Credit Line: Musée National du Moyen Âge, Thermes et Hôtel de Cluny, Paris (Cl. 3055)

Accession Number: isl671

The Met

Medieval Art and The Cloisters at The Met

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance.