Vessel in form of horned quadruped
This vessel takes the shape of a horned animal, probably a bull. It has four cylindrical legs and a similar neck, with a conical snout and horns. It also has small conical ears and large, flat eyes with raised pupils. A tubular handle connects its shoulders to its hindquarters, and there is a round pouring hole in its chest.
This vessel was excavated at Chekka Sabz (also spelled Chigha Sabz, meaning ‘green mound’) in the Pish-i Kuh (‘before the mountain’) region of Luristan in western Iran. It was found in a buried cache of objects which included two Neo-Elamite cylinder seals, two vessels in the form of human figures, and at least three other bull-shaped vessels. The seals date to the 8th-6th centuries B.C., and the pottery found with them, including this vessel, likely date to the same period. Although probably a small village in the Bronze Age, by the Iron Age Chekka Sabz had been reduced to a campsite, perhaps used by pastoralists as they transitioned between summer and winter pastures. The cache seems to have been buried in haste, and it is clear that whoever buried the objects did not, or could not, return to recover them.
The human figures from Chekka Sabz have their hands clasped before them. This pose is attested in Elamite art, where it appears to be the proper gesture to make in the presence of a god. Thus these figures probably represent attentive worshippers, and were likely meant to be offerings. The same is probably true of this vessel.
This vessel was excavated at Chekka Sabz (also spelled Chigha Sabz, meaning ‘green mound’) in the Pish-i Kuh (‘before the mountain’) region of Luristan in western Iran. It was found in a buried cache of objects which included two Neo-Elamite cylinder seals, two vessels in the form of human figures, and at least three other bull-shaped vessels. The seals date to the 8th-6th centuries B.C., and the pottery found with them, including this vessel, likely date to the same period. Although probably a small village in the Bronze Age, by the Iron Age Chekka Sabz had been reduced to a campsite, perhaps used by pastoralists as they transitioned between summer and winter pastures. The cache seems to have been buried in haste, and it is clear that whoever buried the objects did not, or could not, return to recover them.
The human figures from Chekka Sabz have their hands clasped before them. This pose is attested in Elamite art, where it appears to be the proper gesture to make in the presence of a god. Thus these figures probably represent attentive worshippers, and were likely meant to be offerings. The same is probably true of this vessel.
Artwork Details
- Title: Vessel in form of horned quadruped
- Period: Iron Age III
- Date: ca. 700–550 BCE
- Geography: Iran, Luristan, Chekka Sabz
- Culture: Iran
- Medium: Ceramic
- Dimensions: 16 1/8 × 5 7/8 × 14 3/4 in. (40.9 × 14.9 × 37.5 cm)
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1943
- Object Number: 43.89.2
- Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Iran
ca. 9th century BCE
Achaemenid
ca. 5th century BCE
Iran
ca. early 1st millennium BCE
Iran
ca. 7th–6th century BCE
Iran
ca. 10th–8th century BCE
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.