“P.S. . . . does anybody know what the deal is with all the cattle around the font? If it were a watering tank, they’d surely be facing the other way . . . . Seriously, I’ve seen medieval fonts with supporting animals, usually the Gospel archetypes of the angel (Matthew), the winged bull (Luke), the lion (Mark) and the eagle (John), but never with all the cows.”
I believe its supposed to be derived from the lavabo (cleansing vessel) in Solomon’s temple which was brazen and had cast oxen.
The LDS group believes their modern temples are either a more perfect continuation and/or the fulfillment of the Jewish archetype (i.e. Solomon’s temple).
I notice that there are twelve of them - possibly something to do with the Twelve Tribes? (aren’t the folks in the Book of Mormon one or more of the Lost Tribes?)