This ancient lion is well-known in Georgia today, appearing on money and logos. The little lion comes from the kingdom of Colchis, 2300 - 2000 BCE. This nation in the Caucasus was known for its goldworking. It s also believed to be the basis for the ancient Greek legend of Jason and the golden fleece. What is the connection?
Well, it is believed that the Colchians screened for gold in their rivers with the use of sheepskins, which would have collected tiny flakes of gold. Creating literal “golden fleeces.” Archaeologists and geologists, having reproduced this method and studied how much gold would have been in regional water sources, have suggested this method would have indeed been viable.
