Final answer:
It is true that two statues of cherubim served as symbols of God's presence in the biblical sanctuary, as described in Exodus 25:18. These gold figures were commanded by God to be placed on the Ark of the Covenant and are part of a tradition of using animal figures as symbols of guardianship and divine presence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that "Two huge statues of lions called cherubim served as symbols of God's presence in the sanctuary" is true. In the Bible, specifically in the book of Exodus, God commands the creation of cherubim to adorn the Ark of the Covenant: "You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat." (Exodus 25:18, NRSV). These cherubim serve as symbols representing the presence of God within the sanctuary. While cherubim are often depicted in artwork and biblical descriptions as winged creatures, the reference to them as lions might be symbolic, as various cultures used animal figures to depict guardianship or divine protection, such as the lamassu in Assyrian culture or the lions at the Ste. Pierre church portal which symbolized the guardianship of sacred spaces.