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Stands Decorated with Lions’ Paws: Possible Functions
The presence of lions’ paws on the pedestals found at Punta Scifo A raises
another interesting parallel. The most numerous and best-preserved examples come from
richly-decorated villas in Pompeii and Herculaneum. The best comparanda are used in
the decoration of interior spaces. As Stephan Mols points out in his study of the wooden
furniture from Herculaneum, objects of daily life decorated with lions’ and dogs’ paws
are extremely common, and besides them “we encounter the legs of panthers, cattle,
horses, deer and antelope. They could be in marble or bronze, as well as in wood. We
find animal legs, especially lion legs, in other types of furniture and in everyday
objects.” 166
In Tutankhamun’s Egypt (1336-1327 B.C.) lions’ paws were used to decorate
wooden furniture, 167 and to the reign of Ashurnasirpal (884-859 B.C.) is dated a bronze
throne decorated with lion’s paws (Fig. 35). 168 In the Archaic and Classical periods
(sixth-fifth centuries B.C.) lions’ paws were used on objects such as small tables
(Fig. 36), and thrones (Fig. 37). In Hellenistic times lions’ paws were a ubiquitous
decoration for marble theater seats, as at Miletus, Priene, Oropos, 169 and Athens. 170 A
marble tripod, also from Miletus, is decorated in the same way. 171
166 Mols 1999, 45-6.
167 Reeves 1990, 184-6.
168 Litchfield 1899, 3.
169 Krauss 1973, figs. 90-6.
170 Richter 1966, figs. 139-51.
171 Knackfuss 1908, table 19.
118