Roman Bronze Lion with Eyes Inlaid in Silver, 1st century B.C.E.-1st century C.E. Bronze and silver, W. 14.2 cm. © Miho Museum

This bronze figure has a wildly disheveled mane and its legs arranged in a very life-like manner, creating a powerful, extremely realistic image of a lion. Here the lion is shown crouching low, as it targets its prey, emitting a low growl, walking slowly with head turned slightly to the right. The fangs and eyes created with silver inlay add a bit of low piercing light to his face. The Fuller collection of the Seattle Art Museum has a similar image of a lion, and the Seattle figure also has inlaid silver fangs. The Romans enjoyed watching scenes of battles, and lions often appeared in the colosseums in these battles. Hence these lions would have been an everyday sight to the Romans of the day.