Standing bull
This bronze bull stands on a double-based plinth. Its head is strongly sculpted with upright ears behind horns that curve up and slightly inward. Heavy brows arch over the eyes, which are inlaid with shell. The tail hangs straight down to the hooves and parallels those of southwestern Arabian statues of standing bulls sculpted in alabaster, suggesting that this piece dates to the late first millennium B.C. like the alabaster bulls.
By the middle of the first millennium B.C., kingdoms had emerged in southwestern Arabia whose power was based on control of the trade in frankincense and myrrh, which are native to the region. The kingdoms' immense wealth is reflected in the use of bronze to cast large sculptures, as well as smaller objects, which were produced throughout most of the first millennium B.C. Bulls are commonly represented and can be found on funerary stelae, seals, and sculpture.
By the middle of the first millennium B.C., kingdoms had emerged in southwestern Arabia whose power was based on control of the trade in frankincense and myrrh, which are native to the region. The kingdoms' immense wealth is reflected in the use of bronze to cast large sculptures, as well as smaller objects, which were produced throughout most of the first millennium B.C. Bulls are commonly represented and can be found on funerary stelae, seals, and sculpture.
Artwork Details
- Title: Standing bull
- Date: ca. mid- to late 1st millennium BCE
- Geography: Southwestern Arabia
- Medium: Copper alloy, shell
- Dimensions: H. 9 1/2 × W. 3 1/2 × D. 9 3/8 in. (24.2 × 8.9 × 23.8 cm)
Base: L. 7 1/16 in. × W. 3 1/2 in. (18 × 8.9 cm) - Credit Line: Purchase, Michael Ward and Friends of Inanna Gifts, 2002
- Object Number: 2002.34
- 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.
ca. mid-1st millennium BCE
ca. late 1st millennium BCE
ca. late 1st millennium BCE
Assyrian
ca. 9th–8th century BCE
ca. late 1st millennium BCE
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
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.