Bell with head of a bovine wearing a yoke ending in uraei
Bells began to appear in Egypt about the 8th century BC. This bell is decorated with a bovine head wearing a yoke ending in uraei. The clapper is missing. Similarly shaped bells with heads of mythological animals were found in the cemetery at Naukratis, where they must have had some kind of amuletic function for the deceased.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bell with head of a bovine wearing a yoke ending in uraei
- Period: Ptolemaic Period
- Date: 332–30 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Leaded bronze
- Dimensions: H. 4.4 × W. 3.2 × D. 4.5 cm (1 11/16 × 1 1/4 × 1 3/4 in.)
- Credit Line: Gift of Lily S. Place, 1923
- Object Number: 23.6.33
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
More Artwork
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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.