Arch enclosure figuring a lion

myminifactory

The figure of the lion can convey vastly different meanings - either profoundly positive or decidedly negative. As this relief originally originated from a church (Santa Maria dei Servi in Milan), one may logically assume that this lion is a Christian symbol. This particular type of lion has appeared extensively in Christian art throughout the Middle Ages: it is said to possess the incredible power to revive stillborn infants with its breathing. It thereby serves as a direct representation of the resurrected Christ, and in a broader context, embodies the concepts of authority and dominance.