Potnia Theron

This Roman fresco (1st c. BC–1st c. AD) from the Villa della Farnesina is the ancient motif of Potnia Theron—the Mistress of Animals, a widespread Near Eastern and Mediterranean symbol of dominion over nature. The goddess stands between two felines, echoing imagery known from Anatolia to Greece. In Greece, Artemis bore the title, derived from Mycenaean potnia (mistress), related to Sanskrit patnī. The scene reflects the mythic and protective themes favored in elite Roman décor.