Cleveland Museum of Art

Hitching Post

Date

1200s

Medium

limestone

Culture

Iran, possibly Hamadan

Department

Islamic Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Two powerful lions appear to guard the central hitching ledge to which travelers and merchants could secure their horses and other animals, possibly at a caravanserai, predecessor of the modern motel, located along trade routes such as the Silk Road. Animals and human figures are often represented in art made in Islamic countries, but they are not portrayed on items associated with the Muslim faith—the Qur'an, mosques, and prayer rugs.

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