The theme of birds drinking from a source of living water is widespread in Christian art. This fragment of a frieze shows in the middle a vessel from which two plants protrude, which then spill out in spirals towards the outside. In the hollow of each leaf perches a bird; that on the right is only half-visible, while that on the left appears more fully. Their heads are crowned by a crest, and their greedy beaks seek out the refreshing water.
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