Goddess, Possibly Nana, Seated on a Lion

Goddess, Possibly Nana, Seated on a Lion

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Central Asian goddess Nana (Ardokhsho) seated on her lion mount is likely the source for this small icon from Buddhist Afghanistan. Nana in turn has close ties with a number of West Asian goddesses, notably the Near Eastern Anahita and the Mediterranean Tyche and Demeter. Here, the goddess is represented as benign, holding a cornucopia-like palmette. The imagery of Nana with a lion appears to have been transmitted principally via West Asian coinage.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Goddess, Possibly Nana, Seated on a LionGoddess, Possibly Nana, Seated on a LionGoddess, Possibly Nana, Seated on a LionGoddess, Possibly Nana, Seated on a LionGoddess, Possibly Nana, Seated on a Lion

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.