This is part of a series of sculptures of gods who probably formed a sacred group in a shrine or temple. It was found during the building work on the bullring in Mérida in the early 20th century. It represents the oriental god Zervan Chronos, depicted with the head of a lion on his chest and a serpent encircling the god’s naked body. Two holes can be seen on the head for bronze lightning bolts, and the shoulder blades have grooves for inserting two wings, another distinctive feature of this god.

Marble statue (H. 1.75), found in 1902 and 1913. Mus. Merida, Inv. No. 86.

On a round pedestal, a naked Aion in rigid attitude with a curly youthful head. He is entwined by the serpent; the five coils leave the genitalia and the breast, on which a lion's head, uncovered. Against his l. leg a tree-trunk, with a buck's head attached to it. Also in the other leg an affixture is still visible. Both arms are broken off.

Cumont in CRAI 1905, 148ff and fig.; Revista di Archivos, 1904, 220f; Paris in AA 1906, 171; RRS IV, 295 No. 6; Leite de Vasconcellos, Religoes, III, fig. 151; Gomez Moreno, Materiales, Pl. XXXII, fig. 37 (all these figures without its head, which was discovered in 1913); Melida in BAH 1914,,450 No. 8 and Pl. V; Cat. Badajoz, No. 1085; Paris in RA XXIV, 1914, 7f No. 7 and fig. 5; Legge in Proc. Soc. Bibl. Arch., XXXVII, 1915, 156 and Pl. XIX, 3; Lianez, Mer., 179 and fig. 60; Leipoldt, XVI and fig. 42; Pidal, Hist. Esp., II, 440 and fig. 248; Garcia y Bellido, Culto, fig. 8. See fig. 211.

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