Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautiful and fierce carved marble head, depicting a snarling lioness with a wide-open mouth, low ears at the sides of her head, and round, bulging eyes on either side of a wide snout. The marble itself is creamy white, with thin bands of grey visible in some areas of the surface. The tooling used to create the eyes and other facial features is visible, a reminder of the skill and technique of the Roman artisan who carved it. Although this example is more lifelike, the shape of the beast's head and its positioning closely resembles that of the Cramond Lioness, a massive Roman-era sandstone sculpture found in 1997 on the coast near Edinburgh, Scotland. That sculpture, depicting a lioness devouring a man, is part of a death monument for a high ranking Roman officer; this one may have also been attached to someone's monument. Size: 10.45" L x 6.25" W x 9.25" H (26.5 cm x 15.9 cm x 23.5 cm); 12.5" H (31.8 cm) on included custom stand.
In the classical world, lions symbolized power, wealth, and might. They were famously featured in many ancient myths, perhaps the most famous being that of Hercules (Herakles) slaying the Nemean lion for his first labor. The lions fur was believed to be impenetrable to attacks since according to legend it was made of gold and its claws were far sharper than swords with the power to slice through armor. In the end, Hercules defeated the lion by strangling it and wore its skin.
Lions were also favorite iconography for buildings, coins, and statues. Examples include the Lion Gate to the Citadel of Mycenae, the Terrace of the Lions on the island of Delos, and the lion hunt mosaic from Pella featuring Alexander engaged in a lion hunt. Of course lions were also used in the Roman arenas where they would fight other animals, such as tigers and bears.
Provenance: ex-private southern Florida, USA collection, acquired over 20 years ago
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#148801
Condition
Lower jaw is missing, and there are also some losses from the lower sides. Head has been expertly repaired and restored from two pieces. Excellent patina on surface and the eyes are beautifully preserved.