Restored "Egyptian Artifact"
The Egyptian Lion Fountains
One of the four fountains on Capitoline Hill is the two basalt lions at the foot of the ramp leading up to the Capitoline Square.
These two small cup-type fountains and their accompanying inscrutable and serious-looking lions were last restored in 1955 as someone had the inspired idea of putting the Capitoline collection of Egyptian artifacts back together. The fountains had been removed around 1880 and were now refurbished on the basis of the earlier versions, with the two lions being incorporated into the scheme.
Very often in the 17th century -- especially on the occasion of the solemn processions that took place when a newly elected pope went to "take possession" of the Lateran basilica, or even when new senators were elected -- instead of spouting their present thin streams of water, these lion fountains poured forth wine, one white and the other red. This was a great entertainment for the People, of both sexes and all ages, some of whom, with cups and flasks, quickly gathered to drink happily while others vied for it and, by dint of blows, made their way forward to collect it in bowls and jugs.
The pink-veined dark gray granite of these two Egyptian fountain sculptures -- half lion, half sphinx -- makes a pleasing contrast to so much travertine and serves almost as a precursor of the bronze statue Marcus Aurelius. They were found near the church of S. Stefano del Cacco, whose name derives from two black basalt lions from Numidia which used to be in front of that church at the time of Pius IV (1559-65). The two lions were transported to the Capitoline and set up as ornaments at the beginning of the steps that form a ramp leading up to the square. Actually, they were put there in the second half of 1582, as can be deduced from the coats-of-arms (carved into the pedestal) of the Administrators in office at the time.
The idea of animating these two motionless lions by turning them into fountains occurred as soon as water had been brought to the Capitoline, at the same time as the construction of the large fountain below the Senate Steps in 1588. Then, once the necessary holes had been made and the spouts put into their mouths, these poor lions, born two thousand years earlier in an arid, desert land, had to adapt to their new task -- one that was certainly very strange to them; but they took to it at once and did it most conscientiously, even if with obvious distaste.