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The lion itself is complete. The area of stone beneath the front paws, where a fallen victim was normally represented in sculptures of this subject, has been roughly dressed. The stone shows some signs of weathering, especially around the head of the lion, and there is a surface crack across the top of its muzzle.

The lion, with its head turned to the left, is shown in a crouched position on a roughly dressed plinth. The limbs, and particularly the hindquarters, are short and extremely stocky, with correspondingly large paws and long claws. Its tail is curved over its back in an unnatural position. Although the sculpture can be easily faulted on anatomical grounds, the subject has been effectively portrayed. The head with prominent eyes and heavy brows, and the thick, shaggy mane are competently treated. Its mouth is open, with a long tongue hanging out and down to lick its left forepaw. Both the forepaws are raised as if resting on the head or body of a fallen victim, which in similar sculptures usually takes the form of a stag, ram, bull, or even a man, but no traces of such an animal can be discerned here. It has been suggested that this may be owing to the removal of the features in a deliberate defacement of the sculpture, but it is also possible that the sculptor never completed the carving, if indeed he ever intended showing the prey.

Lions were popular decorations on tombs. They acted as guardians and symbolized the predatory power of death. 100-150 CE.

LI7.5 Open