It is called "Shireh Sangi" in Persian.

Early predecessors used it to decorate one of Hamadan city's gates.

Long thought to have been 2000-year-old Parthian relic, it is now more definitely believed to be the handiwork of Alexander's craftsmen, possibly to commemorate one of the Macedonian's fallen generals, Hephaestion.

The lion is badly mutilated by 10th century ruler's effort to remove it.

Hamadan