Harvard Art Museums

Bull Standard

Date

25th-24th century BCE

Medium

Arsenical copper

Culture

Near Eastern

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Institution

Harvard Art Museums

This thin bull stands with its feet pressed together on top of a small base. The animal has a long, thin torso; its upper fore- and hindlimbs are comparatively muscular. There is a raised ridge, indicating the spine, that runs from the neck, down the back, to the slight nub of a tail. The neck curves markedly to the left, while the body leans to the right. The head is simple, with little detail visible; bulges for the eyes and ears are apparent. The elongated muzzle flares at the end, and there is a semi-circular incision to indicate the opening of the mouth. It has two, long curving horns, now bent to cross each other.

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