The lion that I have chosen is depicted on an oliphant, a hunting horn made from the tusk of an elephant that was blown to make signals during hunts. The oliphant dates back to the 12th century, and it is from southern Italy. During this time, the Normans, an ethnic group that surfaced in Normandy in northern France, were conquering the lands occupied by the Byzantine Empire. It was allegedly on display in a Benedictine monastery in Dijon, France, likely taken along with other artifacts as “spoils of war.” The oliphant is made from ivory and has two silver bands with small hoops that a strap likely threaded to make it easier to carry the horn. There is also a brown leather case that the oliphant was found with, and it is reportedly the only surviving relic to have been saved with its original case. The artist is unknown.

 

The artist carved rings confining different animals on to the oliphant. The rings are all connected with intertwining loops around the horn. Many different animals are depicted on the oliphant, such as llamas, antelope, rabbits, birds, and lions. The lion in particular is the only animal shown with two eyes: the artist only carves the profiles of the other animals. The lion’s eyes bulge out of his head, and, with crossed eyebrows, he is looking in the direction of a llama in the ring adjacent to his. The lion’s back legs are crouched, as if the ring is too small for him. The lion is also the only animal whose mouth is open. These characteristics all emphasize the lion’s predatory nature. His eyes stalk his prey and his legs are ready to pounce and mouth ready to bite, showing his bloodthirsty aggression. The head is as big as half of its body and is the main point of emphasis on the lion. The lion’s mane is carved as lines that are small compared to the lion’s massive shoulders. The tail appears to resemble a bird, with an eye and a beak-like tip. In general, the lion’s depiction is stylized, with the big eyes and large upper body cartoonishly emphasized. 

 

The lion’s ring loops to form the ring of the llama below him, and the llama’s ring is connected to that of the antelope next to it. This continuous link between all of the animals on the oliphant represents the natural connection between all animals in an environment. It suggests the flow of energy in nature and the dependence that all animals have on other organisms that they coexist with. Furthermore, it highlights the existing predator-prey relationship in all ecosystems. Overall, the lion is depicted as the most aggressive animal in nature among other species. As a viewer, I recognize the lion as a predator due to the depiction of the eyes and body, but the carving helps me understand the interconnectedness that all animals in nature embrace.