Eagle

Cast bronze figure of an eagle found by Rev J.G. Joyce in the Basilica on the 9 October 1866. Its wings, now missing, would originally have been outstretched. The curve of the feet suggests that it stood on a globe. It is not a military eagle but is probably part of a large figure of an emperor or a god.

The eagle was repaired during its lifetime when replacement wings and probably new feet were fitted. It was then damaged again when it lost its replacement wings and suffered damage to its replacement feet.

This figure inspired Rosemary Sutcliffe's books 'The Eagle of the Ninth' and 'The Silver Branch'.