Roman lion fragment

Roman lion fragment
ITEM: Lion fragment
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st Century B.C - 1st Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 105 mm x 116 mm (without stand)
CONDITION: Good condition. Includes stand.
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, acquired between 1980 - 2000

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Lions in ancient Rome held a significant role in both public entertainment and as symbols of power and dominance. Most famously, lions were used in the venationes, the gladiatorial games where exotic animals were hunted and killed for public spectacle. These animals, including lions, were imported from regions such as North Africa, symbolizing Rome's vast empire and control over distant lands. In the Roman Colosseum and other arenas, lions were often pitted against gladiators or criminals as part of the brutal entertainment that captivated Roman audiences. The presence of lions in these games embodied the idea of man’s dominance over nature, a theme central to Rome's imperial ideology.

Lions also appeared frequently in Roman art and architecture, often serving as symbols of strength, courage, and authority. They were featured in sculptures, mosaics, and decorative elements in public buildings, private homes, and even tombs. For example, lions might appear as part of fountain decorations or as guardians at the entrances of important buildings. The Roman elite often associated themselves with the lion’s majestic and powerful image, reflecting their own aspirations for leadership and control. As a symbol, the lion became an embodiment of the virtues Rome wished to project: invincibility, ferocity, and grandeur.

Beyond their use in the arenas and symbolism in art, lions also held mythological and religious significance in Rome. The lion was linked to various gods and heroes, such as Hercules, who famously wore a lion’s skin as a symbol of his strength after defeating the Nemean lion in one of his twelve labors. Additionally, lions were sometimes associated with the goddess Cybele, whose rites included the use of lions in processions. In these contexts, lions transcended their role as mere animals and became potent symbols within Roman religion and myth, representing divine power and protection.

Measurement:

11.6 x 10.5 cm