The Guennol Lioness was purchased on Decemby an anonymous collector for $57.2 million, making it the most expensive ancient statue ever. Plus, it symbolizes the very essence of Mesopotamian culture.

Historians and art critics estimate that it was made around the time man invented the wheel and began constructing settlements. Besides its value in American dollars, it is of a great historical value, too. The sculpture depicts a hybrid creature, as human features are intertwined with animal ones, more precisely a lioness. Very small, only 3.2 inches tall, it was discovered near Baghdad, Iraq. Over 5,000 years old, Guennol Lioness is a Mesopotamian sculpture made by an unknown artist belonging to the Elam civilization. The over 2 foot tall figure is an interesting blend of elements belonging to African culture, and the minimalist approach of Constantin Brancusi. Modigliani's masterpiece is clearly inspired from African symbolism. Literally meaning “the head,” the Tete depicts the face of a woman wearing a tribal mask, with her hair swept back. It was purchased on Jby an anonymous collector via a phone call. Sculpted by Amedeo Modigliani between 19, Tete is the most expensive limestone statue ever sold. Weighing 225 tons, the Statue of Liberty was accepted by president Grover Cleveland on October, 28, 1886. The amount would be translated into $45 million nowadays. At the time it was built, it cost around $250,000, money raised from the contributions of French people. The gigantic steel structure on which the statue was built was developed by none other than famous engineer Gustave Eiffel. Therefore, the Statue of Liberty has a crown with seven sun beams that correspond to the seven continents. Frederic Auguste Bartholdi is the sculptor behind this majestic statue, whose source of inspiration was the Colossus of Rhoses, dedicated to the God of Sun. In fact, the Lady of Liberty holds the Declaration of Independence in her left hand, while in her right, she holds a torch symbolizing victory. government to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of American Independence. It was made by the French and offered as a gift to the U.S. It is the symbol of freedom and democracy in the United States. Renowned throughout the world, the Statue of Liberty does not require too much explanation. Standing as proof to mankind's artistic skills and talent, the statues on our list stunned the world not only with their size, either incredibly tall or amazingly small, but also with their jaw-dropping costs. While paintings depict fantastic or real scenes, portraits or landscapes, sculptures have a deeper symbolical meaning. No wonder the value of certain art works exceeds imagination. Direct contact between a tourist and such a statue is often regarded as sacrilege.Īlongside painting, sculpture is one of the most fabulous arts. These valuable assets have a special place in their home country's national patrimony, and are well protected, so that tourists can see them and photograph them without actually touching them, thus preserving them. They have come to represent the emblematic image of a region, city, or country. Most often, they are not exposed in museums, they are found in the most unexpected of places, on top of a mountain, on a small island, or in private collections that are rarely open to the public. There are people who travel thousands of miles just to see these impressive sculptures for themselves, as they are wonders of the world in the true sense of the word. There are certain statues in the world whose notoriety rivals with the most attractive tourist attractions.

Although, every once in a while, some statues come to represent a nation. The main tourist attractions on the Globe are actually landscapes, beaches, seas, cities, castles, and museums. However, others simply wish to explore, get closer to traditions and cultures from all distant corners of the world. In most cases, it is for relaxation, getting away from it all, the hustle and bustle of the city and the stress at work. There are many reasons why people travel the world.

Guennol lioness