Final answer:
The lion was used symbolically and in actuality for hunting and warfare in Ancient Near East cultures. Hunting used bronze weapons, while lions depicted in art symbolized royal power and divine right. Controlled hunts by royalty, like those of Ashurbanipal, demonstrated fearlessness and kingship, while animal parts from hunts also had decorative and tool purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lion was used for both hunting and warfare, with lavish depictions found on daggers and palace walls from the Ancient Near East. Hunting often involved the use of bronze weapons with nobles hunting large prey such as deer, while ordinary people hunted smaller game. In Ancient Near East culture, lions were not only hunted but also symbolized as powerful enemies in warfare, as evidenced by the Assyrian Lion Hunt reliefs. Ashurbanipal's palace in Nineveh featured images of him showing great bravery and skill during controlled lion hunts that were staged to ensure his safety. This celebrated his royal might and prowess, demonstrating his ability to overcome the forces of chaos, aligning him with the gods and his divine right to rule.
The Gravettian tool industry showed that animal parts, such as mammoth tusks and bones, were also used to create tools or art, with the Lion figurine being one historically significant example. This figure had human and animal characteristics, potentially signifying its role in religious or shamanistic practices. In a broader social context, successful hunts and the depiction of lion hunts on public structures reinforced the status of the king and the societal hierarchy.