Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A charming leaded bronze panther in a lively pose with one paw raised and a sinuous, coiled tail extending from his posterior. Seated upon his haunches, the ferocious feline puffs out his chest and points his rounded snout upwards, opening his jaw which is surmounted by perky ears. In the Ancient Greek and Roman mythologies and cultures, panthers were considered to be the faithful companions of the wine god Dionysus, or his Roman counterpart Bacchus. The panthers were sacred to the god, who is often depicted riding them on sculptures, mosaics and wall paintings. The Dionysian thiasus (procession) was one of the favorite subjects in Ancient Roman art. It featured the god and his wife Ariadne at the center, surrounded and followed by various animals such as panthers, lions, tigers and creatures such as satyrs and nymphs. Exotic and wild animals were associated with the wild and uncontrolled nature of this god. Size: 1.4" W x 1.1" H (3.6 cm x 2.8 cm)
Panthers were far from a mythological beast, however, and would have been a familiar sight across the Roman Empire. The 'venationes' ("hunts") and other 'spectacula' ("shows") of ancient Rome saw exotic species (including panthers, elephants, and bears) procured from all corners of the Roman Empire - a conscious demonstration in itself of the nation’s extensive reach and authority - and placed in the amphitheater for gory entertainment.
Provenance: private Elyria, Ohio, USA collection; ex-Collector Antiquities, London, UK; ex-private German collection, ca. 1950s
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#178597
Condition
Expected surface wear as shown, but otherwise intact and excellent with nice remaining detail and rich patina throughout.