More on those bronze lion-head discs

THERIOMORPHIC ICONOGRAPHIC ARTIFACTS: Lion-head Bronzes in Grave in Israel May Reveal Zoroastrian Influence on Rome. Bronze discs found in rare intact grave were handles of a coffin that may have contained a Roman dignitary worshiping Mithra, the archaeologists deduce (Ruth Schuster, Haaretz).

As an aside, I love the stone relief of Gilgamesh and the lion in the illustration. I know it says he is "subduing" it. But it looks to me as though Gilgamesh, who was eleven cubits tall (almost 18 feet) and who appears as a giant in the Book of Giants, is cuddling his pet lion. And in his other hand he is holding a cat play toy. But I am not an Assyriological iconographer, so receive my interpretation with caution.

Enigmatic bronze lion heads found in 1,900-year-old tomb in central Israel. Discovered near Kfar Saba, the ornate coffin fittings may hint at ties to pagan cults — or a Roman soldier’s final journey (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel).

With HT to Ancient Origins, I noted this story and the underlying 'Atiqot article a couple of months ago. I'm not sure why everyone is suddenly noticing it now (also here, here, here, and here). But I'm glad to see these artifacts getting more attention.

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