Luna marble, 1st cent. A.D.
Pompeii, House of the Vettii
Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei, inv. 20531

The jet of water sprayed from the mouth of the rabbit, a rare subject in this type of decorative sculpture, where birds or puppies were usually preferred. Already in the Greek world, rabbits were associated with fertility and thus deemed animals sacred to Aphrodite. In Roman times, rabbits were pets beloved by children.