Bracelet with goat's head terminals
This gold bracelet has terminals in the form of goat heads. The details of the heads are incised, including the nostrils, mouth, chin hair, eyes and eyebrows. Pointed ears extend from the backs of their heads. Curved horns rise from the tops of their heads and connect to the bracelet.
Goats, specifically wild mountain goats, were an important aspect of ancient Persian iconography. Unlike Mesopotamia, which is flat, Iran has many mountains, and mountain goats, with their distinctive curved horns, became important markers of Iranian identity, even before the region came to be known as ‘Iran.’
Goats, specifically wild mountain goats, were an important aspect of ancient Persian iconography. Unlike Mesopotamia, which is flat, Iran has many mountains, and mountain goats, with their distinctive curved horns, became important markers of Iranian identity, even before the region came to be known as ‘Iran.’
Artwork Details
- Title: Bracelet with goat's head terminals
- Period: Achaemenid
- Date: ca. 6th–4th century BCE
- Geography: Iran
- Culture: Achaemenid
- Medium: Gold
- Dimensions: 2 3/8 × 3/8 × 3 in., 0.2 lb. (6.1 × 1 × 7.6 cm, 0.1 kg)
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1980
- Object Number: 1980.116
- 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.
Achaemenid
ca. 5th century BCE
Achaemenid
ca. 6th–4th 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.