Cleveland Museum of Art

Wolf-Head Barge Fixture

Date

1–100 CE

Medium

bronze

Culture

Italy, Rome

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This snarling wolf head is closely similar to others that were attached to a luxurious pleasure barge moored on Lake Nemi, near Rome. The ship was designed as a floating platform for elaborate parties, and included impressive bronze fittings to ornament the wooden structure. Beam ends were capped with lion, panther, and wolf heads, each with a large bronze ring between its teeth. The wolf is an important symbol of Rome, having reared its mythical founders, Romulus and Remus.

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