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French: Languedoc, Romanesque capital of Samson with lions
c. 1170, Limestone, height: 33 cm
Capital carved with volutes at the corners interspersed with beast’s masks, the four sides with figures of lions and a Samson riding one while bearing a sword.
Lion capitals were popular in the 12th century in the region straddling the France-Spain border. The man riding one lion represents the battle between the Old Testament figure Samson and the lion. A comparable capital, now in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
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