Roman
A Roman marble 'Lion Hunt' sarcophagus fragment, Imperial, circa 3rd century AD
Marble
Height: 30.5 cm
Further images
From a lenos, a tub-shaped sarcophagus. The hunt scene depicts a powerful lion, framed by a luxuriant mane, staring out. In his mouth he crushes the back-twisted head of a...
From a lenos, a tub-shaped sarcophagus. The hunt scene depicts a powerful lion, framed by a luxuriant mane, staring out. In his mouth he crushes the back-twisted head of a horse, whose neck he gouges with the claws of his left foreleg. The lion wears a strap around his torso. To the left stands a man, the lion trainer/handler, holding a staff.
Provenance
Leo Mildenberg (1913 - 2001) Collection, Zurich, Switzerland, acquired between the 1970s - 90sWith Antiqua Inc., California, Ancient Art and Numismatics, catalogue XIII, p. 31, no. LM12, before 2005
Private collection, New England, acquired from the above, 15 June 2005
Literature
Lion-hunt sarcophagi rose to popularity in the 3rd century AD. In Rome, the activity of hunting was a pastime traditionally associated with the emperor and aristocracy. As such, hunting imagery in Roman art became symbolic of masculinity and power, expressions of which were important for the self-representation of status-conscious citizens. Lion hunting in particular was an activity associated with the emperor, such imagery therefore was used to reflect the social ambition of the deceased.There is a similar example in the Vatican Museums, Rome and also the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no. 1975.359. For further discussion and other related examples see J. Stroszeck, Löwen-Sarkophage. Sarkophage mit Löwenkopfen, schreitende Löwen und Löwen-kampfgruppen, Berlin, 1988.