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Lion Towering Over a Mounted Knight

 Digital reconstruction of Chertsey combat tile with lion towering over a mounted knight and surrounding text, tile molds designed in the 1250s. Eames 469. © Janis Desmarais and Amanda Luyster.
Animated transition between photographs  and drawing © Janis Desmarais and Amanda Luyster.

On this tile, a massive lion (without a mane, so perhaps a lioness?) towers over a mounted knight holding a shield. The lion sinks its teeth into the horse’s skull, while the horse rears and strikes the lion with its hooves. Meanwhile, the knight raises a sword behind his back, preparing to strike the lion. Here the focus is on the valiant steed, who both wounds and is wounded in the fight, joining his rider in battle against the beast. 

To learn more about the lion fighter tiles, see the video on the Classicizing Rider page.

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