Lion's Head Waterspout in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Lion's Head Waterspout
Greek, made in South Itay, about 450 BC
limestone

Inventory # 96.AA.120

Waterspouts on Greek buildings were often shaped as openmouthed lions. A spout was part of a sima, the gutterlike element that drained rainwater from a roof. This lion's head waterspout was carved separately from the sima and was probably attached as a replacement on a small building.

Text from the Getty Villa museum label.