A Roman mosaic showing "Assyrian influence". We still see a griffin, but it clearly has a pointy tongue instead of a beak. This griffin does not show a similar style to the VM, but it does reveal that the beak could become a tongue. There are more examples of beakless griffins.
![[Image: Z46.1Gryps.jpg]](http://www.theoi.com/image/Z46.1Gryps.jpg)
I've also been looking for more Roman Syrian mosaics. Many are from the 5thC and 6thC CE, and show a similar style, which does remind me of the VM creatures.
![[Image: 640px-Mosaic_of_Leopard_Chasing_a_Gazell...C01919.JPG]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Mosaic_of_Leopard_Chasing_a_Gazelle%2C_Roman%2C_Homs%2C_Syria%2C_450-462_AD%2C_polychrome_marble_tesserae_-_Chazen_Museum_of_Art_-_DSC01919.JPG/640px-Mosaic_of_Leopard_Chasing_a_Gazelle%2C_Roman%2C_Homs%2C_Syria%2C_450-462_AD%2C_polychrome_marble_tesserae_-_Chazen_Museum_of_Art_-_DSC01919.JPG)
![[Image: 143392425.vY1CGNna.DFwJan12265.jpg]](http://m5.i.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/143392425.vY1CGNna.DFwJan12265.jpg)
Searcher: one thing is not to be able to draw a lion because you don't know what it looks like. A totally different thing is to draw a completely different, non-lion animal.
To me this whole thread is about sources and cultural influences. As Rene correctly remarks, some customs and patterns were very widespread and run like a branching river through history. Even those experts who believe the VM has stylistic parallels in contemporary art, do remark that it still contains very unusual elements. There is a possibility that these elements go back to earlier motifs (from sources) rather than to an author's fancy. This is what we are exploring in this thread. If we want to capture the VM feline, we must also attack it from the rear.
I've also been looking for more Roman Syrian mosaics. Many are from the 5thC and 6thC CE, and show a similar style, which does remind me of the VM creatures.
Searcher: one thing is not to be able to draw a lion because you don't know what it looks like. A totally different thing is to draw a completely different, non-lion animal.
To me this whole thread is about sources and cultural influences. As Rene correctly remarks, some customs and patterns were very widespread and run like a branching river through history. Even those experts who believe the VM has stylistic parallels in contemporary art, do remark that it still contains very unusual elements. There is a possibility that these elements go back to earlier motifs (from sources) rather than to an author's fancy. This is what we are exploring in this thread. If we want to capture the VM feline, we must also attack it from the rear.