Cleveland Museum of Art

Howling Wolf

Date

c. 500–200 BCE

Medium

wood with shell inlays

Culture

Southern Siberia

Department

Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Its subject, size, materials, and naturalistic style suggest that this small sculpture was made by one of the nomadic peoples of Western and Central Asia—perhaps the Scythians, who, with the Medes, conquered the Assyrians. Works of art made by the Scythians and other nomadic groups are shown on the northwest wall of this gallery. The artist captured this wolf in mid-howl, depicting a wild animal in its natural element. The naturalistic carving of the wood depicts the animal's features, making it recognizable despite the eroded surface.

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