Statue of a lion attacking a young stag

This statue, found in the cistern of a possible mansion at Corbridge in 1907, is a wonderful example of the skill of the stonemasons at Corbridge in the Roman period. The lion is a symbol often used on funerary monuments to symbolise death’s victory over humans. The statue was originally made to adorn the top of a tomb, but it has been re-used as a fountain head, with a hole made through the lion’s mouth, removing his teeth. It is a perfect example of Roman recycling.