Ron Wakeman (Tell Jalul excavations, 2004?) photographs a lion/leopard carved on the exterior wall of the palace at Araq al-Amir (Jordan).
Nestled in the lush Wadi al-Seer, the 3rd-century BC palace at Araq al-Amir once stood as the crown jewel of a sprawling estate. Originally surrounded by a shimmering man-made lake, the palace featured striking architectural details—including a "feisty feline" sculpture that likely functioned as a fountain, with water cascading directly from its fauces (jaws).
This was the seat of the Tobiads, a formidable Jewish family whose influence is captured in both Biblical texts and the writings of Josephus (Antiquities XIII 230–233).