River god (Arno)This statue; which shows the river god in a traditional reclining pose; dates from the time of the Emperor Hadrian and was inspired by a Greek prototype. In the early 16th century it was displayed in the Courtyard of Statues (Cortile delle Statue) where it was part of a fountain; the basin of which is a sarcophagus dating from 170-180 A.D. decorated with scenes of battles between Greeks and Amazons. The statue can be identified with the River Arno; which flows through Florence; though the presence of the feline; once thought to be a tiger; meant that for many years the statue was known as the River Tigris of the ancient Mesopotamia.inv. 168Vatican Museums (Pio Clementino Museum - Octagonal Courtyard)