Cramond lioness
In 1997, the Cramond ferryman Robert Graham unearthed a
sandstone sculpture from the mud of the River Almond, Cramond,
Edinburgh. It turned out to be one of the most important Roman
finds in decades.
Who was the monument for?
This imposing stone monument is probably a memorial for a high
ranking Roman officer. The scuplture expresses the widespread
symbolism of death and dipicts a lioness devouring a
naked bearded man. The two snakes at the base of the lioness's
neck symbolise survival of the soul.
Death as a social occasion
In Roman times, death was not simply a matter of disposing of
the body - it was a very important social occasion at which the
living affirmed their relationships with the deceased and each
other. Funery rites at various times and in various ways marked
aspects of the dead person's identity.