Getty Museum

Lion Head Waterspout

Date

1st century B.C.

Medium

Marble

Culture

Greek (South Italian)

Department

Architecture

Institution

Getty Museum

Marble waterspout in the shape of a lion's head. The head is very round with a short mane encircling it. The eyes are set close together under a shallow brow and the nose is broad and flat. The mouth is open in a kind of grimace with flat rectangular teeth. The large pour spout interrupts the lower jaw. Incised lines run from the nose up to the cheekbones, indicating whiskers. Waterspouts lining the eaves of buildings were often shaped as openmouthed lions. They were frequently carved in one piece with the sima, the gutter-like element that ran along the edge of the roof. Used to channel and control the rainwater runoff from the roof, these spouts funneled the water through the lions' open mouths.

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