Oldest ever Idol discovered so far is the Lion-Man ivory scultpure, which is estimated to be 40000 years old.

It was discovered in the Hohlenstein-Stadel, a German cave in 1939.

This 29.6 cm (11.7 inches) in height, 5.6 cm wide, and 5.9 cm thick sculpture was carved out of woolly mammoth ivory using a flint stone knife.



Most of its pieces were found in 1939 but it was forgotten for many years as head was not found and also due to World War – II.

Between 1997 and 1998, additional pieces of the sculpture were discovered and the head was reassembled and restored.

There is a debate about its name, gender etc as not enough historic evidence of such being exist in Germany or Europe.

Infact, it is idol of Lord Narasimha (Lion faced Human), which is regarded as 4th avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Carving idols from Elephant Tusk was common in India and Asian Elephant is the closest extant relative of Woolly Mammoth.

The name currently used in German is, Löwenmensch—meaning “lion-human”.

Seven parallel, transverse, carved gouges are on the left arm.

They represent 7 music octaves (sapta swaras), 7 color bands, 7 chakras ,7 aural layers and 7 continents.

After planing the earth, he adorned it with mountains and then divided it into seven continents- Vishnu Purana 1.4.45-50

The above picture in left is Narasimha’s face at Rosslyn chapel in Scotland built by Freemasons.

There are many such examples of ancient traces across the world.

Picture to the right is Sphinx in Egypt which is actual another form of Narasimha (Human face and Lion Body).

Narasimha Pranama in Reggae style at Bogota-Colombia

Narasimha sculpture from Banteay Srei Hindu temple (2000 BC) of Cambodia