Rock crystal Statuette of a Lion

Unknown

3rd–4th century · Rock crystal · Medieval Art

A groove on the bottom suggests that this tiny lion was formerly mounted onto another object, possibly a scepter. Five rock crystal works found in a cistern in Carthage (now in Tunisia, North Africa) demonstrate the quality of the arts of that great city as the Roman world became Byzantine. The Roman naturalist Pliny, describing its beauty, believed crystal to come from snow. It was thought to protect against kidney ailments and other diseases.

Artist

Unknown

Date

3rd–4th century

Medium

Rock crystal

Culture

Roman or Byzantine

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Bequest of Ada Small Moore, 1955