NORWICH – A new herd of art greets motorists traveling up and down West Hill on county Route 10A in Norwich. Collector William Smith Jr.’s more familiar herd of cows, installed in 2009, now have company in the form of life-sized elephants.

The former auto dealer’s interchangeable story is that they are either his very own Republicans or Hannibal’s War Elephants leading his troops over the treacherous Alps in conquest of Rome. “The warriors needed the cows to make the trip!” he suggested. But really, Smith said he just wanted the creatures near his house where he could see them.

The statues arrived a week ago from Cooperstown where they previously greeted those attending the Glimmerglass Opera’s summer performances of “Aida.” Smith purchased the elephants in an online auction that raised funds for Glimmerglass and the artist who created them, Elizabeth Schoonmaker. The artist wrapped wild grapevines around a rebar metal frame to create the 11-foot high and 17-foot long beasts. They weigh in at between 800 and 900 pounds, Smith said.

The elephants join a spectacle of objet d’art on Smith’s lawn on both sides of 10A.