Lyman break galaxies as young spheroids

We investigate the nature of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) using a chemodynam ical model for the evolution of galaxies. Our model predicts an early (the first Gyr) stage of intense star formation in the evolution of massive sphe roids which could be identified with the LBGs, observed at redshift similar to 3 with strong ongoing star formation. In particular, we are successful in reproducing the properties of the LEG DSF 2237+116 C2 with a model descr ibing a young similar to L* spheroid. The comparison of the predictions of our models with the observations gives support to the scenario in which LBG s are the progenitors of present-day massive spheroids, i.e. bulges of lumi nous early-type spirals or luminous elliptical galaxies.