Inv. n°: MMoCA665

South Arabian Bronze Bull

Standing on four legs, the right foreleg slightly advanced, the head with projecting ears and short, tapering, curving horns, the dewlap ridged, a collar around the neck tied at the back, the eyes with large pupils and shallow arched brows, the long straight tail angled inwards. The bull wears leather or metal collar/chain from which hangs a Mithraic 'bulla'. The cult of Mithras was particularly popular in the Roman Army.

h. 18 x w. 23.5 cm

Roman, 2nd century AD

Bronze

Provenance

  • Private collection, Germany, 1985
  • With a dealer in Paris
  • Christie's Antiquities Sale, New York, 9th December 2008, lot 60
  • Acquired at David Aaron Ancient Arts, London, 7th February 2011, lot D1765

Publications

  • Christie's, Antiquities Sale, New York, 9th December 2008, lot 60
  • C. Dauphin, Animals in the Ancient World. The Levett Bestiary, Levett Collection Series 2, France, 2014, pp. 62 and 100
  • C. Dauphin, Les animaux dans le monde antique. Le bestiaire Levett, Serie Collection Levett 2, France, 2016, p. 43, fig. 35 and p. 89

Exhibitions

  • Musée d'Art Classique de Mougins (MACM), Mougins, France, from June 2011
  • Animal, Musée d'Art Classique de Mougins (MACM), Mougins, France, 26th February 2016 — 19th June 2016

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