SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Probably produced within the Islamic Mediterranean in the late eleventh-early twelfth century, the Griffin and the Lion have incised on their body a long inscription in Arabic expressing good wishes. After being captured by the Pisans, the Griffin underwent an extraordinary transformation: for centuries it was a sound-producing guardian figure on top of the roof of Pisa Cathedral. The present project is focused on the Griffin but also includes alongside it other bronze animal sculptures such as the Mari-Cha Lion and the Lucca Falcon. It is hoped that the interdisciplinary study of the Griffin will shed light on the significance of such objects in a global Mediterranean culture. This seminar is intended to further our understanding of these bronze objects by sharing the results of the scientific analyses and the historical and art-historical investigations that have taken place in the last ten years. Part of the Research Seminar in Islamic Art, it is intended for scholars working in fields related to the Griffin and associated themes. The format of the seminar will be an introduction followed by a series of tightly focused presentations on the Pisa Griffin, Mari-Cha Lion, Lucca Falcon and related objects such as the Monzon Lion and the Cagliari Peacock. Central to them will be the questions: what are these objects?, where and when were they made?, what was the context of their production and what was their original function?, what has happened to them since?, and how can technical analyses help our investigations? The presentations are intended to lead to an open conversation on all these topics and to a productive exchange of views.