Lion Attacking a Bull

This sculpture, notable for its drama and energy, takes up a theme frequently found in ancient art: that of a lion attacking and killing a bull. Face furrowed in concentration, the lion sinks its teeth into the fleshy neck of the bull, which rears up in agony, attempting to throw off his attacker. The lion's tail rests on the bull's rear upper thigh, as it sits on the bull's back and its claws grip the underbelly of its victim. The group has tentatively been identified as belonging to a pediment, as it was made to be seen from only one side, despite being carved (summarily in back) in the round.

Sculptures such as this, popular in ancient Greece, ultimately emanate from the ancient Near East; the scene has been found on Mesopotamian cylinder seals from around 3000 BC, and although its meanings are obscure, may relate to the changing of the seasons, or to wild nature overtaking the domesticated.