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Description: | Cast copper alloy leopard mount probably dating from the early Roman period, i.e. c. AD43-200. This is an interesting little object which is may require conservation (the surface is pitted and flaky in places). It is a little leopard walking or standing on an oval/eye-shaped platform with a loop behind. Its front right leg is raised, the paw resting on a severed human head. The other three feet stand firmly on the ground The animal stands proudly with its head erect and the tail curled forward and resting on the back. The animal is clearly depicted as feline and some of the moulded leopard spots are still clearly visible on the flanks of the animal's body. The facial features, eyes, snout and ears are finely moulded, as are the hair and facial features of the severed human head. The reverse and bottom of the mount are not as finely moulded and it is more than likely that these surfaces rested against a wooden mount/box/plank or other object. The inside of the loop at the top looks worn and it may have held one end of a chain or rope.Martin Henig suggests that it may have been part of horse harness or a cart or wagon (possibly a rein trace). A similar object was found at the Roman town of Silchester (The Roman Town of Calleva, 1974, 205, fig. 32, no. 6) and in this case it was a key handle in the shape of a ram's head.The image of the leopard was widely used in the Roman period, but these objects are comparativley rare in Britain: there are images of leopards on Samian ware vessels, felines as knife guards, hilts or grips and there are leopard brooches. Generally, however, the latter have a more continental distribution and there are only three recorded on the PAS database: one from Shalfleet parish, Isle of Wight (IOW-1402E8), Little Waltham parish, Essex (CAM-925392) and Bradfield Combust with Stanningfield parish in Suffolk (SF9384).The image of the severed head is also not an usual one in the Roman period. It is not so much used in classical Roman imagery, but rather influenced by provincial art. A Roman soldier (who was, however, from the German tribe of the Treveri) is depicted on a tombstone from Lancaster: he is riding a horse, with a sword and a severed head of his opponent in his hands; with his opponent's headless body is still kneeling below him. The tradition of behading opponents was attributed to Celtic or Germanic tribes and it was thought that only that would 'really' kill a person. It is a very powerful image.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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