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Silk with "Samson" and the Lion

late 6th–early 7th century

Not on view

The original vibrant colors of this elegantly woven silk and the similar example from the Musée National du Moyen Âge, Thermes et Hôtel de Cluny, Paris, 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 the Lion, Weft-faced compound twill (samit) in polychrome silk — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Silk with "Samson" and the Lion

Date: late 6th–early 7th century

Geography: Made in Eastern Mediterranean

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

Dimensions: 37 1/16 x 15 1/8 in. (94.2 x 38.4 cm)

Classification: Textiles

Credit Line: Byzantine Collection, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. (BZ.1934.1)

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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.