Confronted animals, or confronted-animal as an adjective, where two animals face each other in a symmetrical pose, is an ancient bilateral motif in art and artifacts studied in archaeology and art history. The "anti-confronted animals" is the opposing motif, with the animals back to back.
The Gebel el-Arak Knife. The reverse of the handle shows a Master of Animals motif: two confronted lions, flanking a central figure (note confronted dogs and other animals below)
Cylinder seal of Uruk displaying a confronted-lioness motif sometimes described as a "serpopard" - 3000 BC - Louvre
Minoan snake goddess figurine from Crete, holding confronted snakes, dated 1600 BC.
Narmer Palette with confronted lionesses, displayed in iconographic registers - Ancient Egypt c. 3,000 BC
The Master of Animals, Lord of Animals, or Mistress of the Animals is a motif in ancient art showing a human between and grasping two confronted animals. The motif is very widespread in the art of the Ancient Near East and Egypt. The figure may be female or male, it may be a column or a symbol, the animals may be realistic or fantastical, and the human figure may have animal elements such as horns, an animal upper body, an animal lower body, legs, or cloven feet. Although what the motif represented to the cultures that created the works probably varies greatly, unless shown with specific divine attributes, when male the figure is typically described as a hero by interpreters.
Egyptianizing gold pendant showing the Lord of the Animals, Minoan, 1700–1500 BC. Aegina Treasure. (British Museum)
Mistress of animals (Potnia Theron) Pithos with relief, 625-600 BC, National Archaeological Museum of Athens
"Master of the Animals" stamp seals, Tepe Giyan, Iran, 5000-4000 BCE.
Gebel el-Arak Knife (c. 3450 BC). Naqada II, Egypt