The fulcra on the lectus were decorated with which animals?

The fulcra on the lectus were decorated with which animals?

• A. Horse
• B. Swan
• C. Horse or swan
• D. Lion

Answer: (C)

Roman furniture often used animal forms as decorative supports, and the ends of a lectus, known as fulcra, follow that pattern. Surviving examples show that these mounts could take the shape of a horse head on some pieces or a swan head on others, indicating a small repertoire rather than a single fixed motif. Because the evidence includes both horse and swan representations, the description “Horse or swan” best fits what was used for these fulcra. Lions appear in other contexts of furniture decoration, but they’re not the typical motif for the ends of a lectus.

Roman furniture often used animal forms as decorative supports, and the ends of a lectus, known as fulcra, follow that pattern. Surviving examples show that these mounts could take the shape of a horse head on some pieces or a swan head on others, indicating a small repertoire rather than a single fixed motif. Because the evidence includes both horse and swan representations, the description “Horse or swan” best fits what was used for these fulcra. Lions appear in other contexts of furniture decoration, but they’re not the typical motif for the ends of a lectus.