This attractive, broken figure of a lion was found in an area of the Early Dynastic temple at Abydos which Petrie identified as a 'rubblish hole' or even a latrine.  This suggests that, whatever his origianal use, his broken state made him unfit to carry on, and he was thrown away.

Small models of lions and dogs found in Predynastic sites are usually identified as gaming pieces; sometimes they are even found in sets.  This image may well have once been part of such a set.

This individual, broken little figure does not seem to be wearing a collar so it is not possible to tell if he represented a semi-tame pet lion used as a hunting partner by a king or noble.