In the Ancient Roman and Greek mythologies and cultures, panthers were considered to be the faithful companions of the wine god Bacchus, or his Greek counterpart Dionysus. The panthers were sacred to the god, who is often depicted riding them on sculptures, mosaics and wall paintings. The Dionysian thiasos (procession) was one of the favourite subjects in Ancient Roman art. It featured the god and his wife Ariadne at the centre, surrounded and followed by various animals such as panthers, lions, tigers and creatures such as satyrs and nymphs. Exotic and wild animals were associated with the wild and uncontrolled nature of this god. Panthers were far from a mythological beast, however, and would have been a familiar sight across the Roman Empire. The ‘venationes’ (“hunts”) and other ‘spectacula’ (“shows”) of ancient Rome saw exotic species (including panthers, elephants, and bears) procured from all corners of the Roman Empire – a conscious demonstration in itself of the nation’s extensive reach and authority – and placed in the amphitheatre for gory entertainment.
Roman Bronze Panther Head Finial
£ 450.00
A fine Roman cast bronze finial in the shape of a feline, most likely a panther. The panther is depicted with its ears pressed against its head and its mouth open, baring its large fangs, as though snarling. Anatomical features including its snout, eyes, and the details of its fur, have been rendered naturalistically. The handle flares out from the back of the panther’s head, with a perforation just behind, and features raised ribs. The piece has been mounted on a custom-made stand.
Dimensions without stand: L 8.6cm x W 3.4cm x H 2.7cm
Condition: Fine condition. A beautiful dark patina along with some encrustation and some roughness to the surface. Edges of the handle are slightly jaggered.
In stock
| Weight | 143.6 g |
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| Dimensions | L 8.6 x W 4.9 x H 7.8 cm |
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