An Achaemenid gold protome in the form of a recumbent ram
An Achaemenid gold protome in the form of a recumbent ram
Circa 6th-5th Century B.C.
Of hollow form, with ridged horns curving around the ears, details of the fleece and horns incised, the attachment terminal with a raised collar, 5cm high
Provenance:
Private collection, France, ca. 1970s.
London art market, 2013.
with Safina Books, UK, June 2015.
The above lot bears a resemblance to the recumbent animals found on rhyta of the same period. 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. To the Achaemenids, and Persians, the ram symbolized heaven, the male god, and power in warfare. Rams were also highly prized for providing wool, milk, meat and hides for leather.
View it on
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
An Achaemenid gold protome in the form of a recumbent ram
Circa 6th-5th Century B.C.
Of hollow form, with ridged horns curving around the ears, details of the fleece and horns incised, the attachment terminal with a raised collar, 5cm high
Provenance:
Private collection, France, ca. 1970s.
London art market, 2013.
with Safina Books, UK, June 2015.
The above lot bears a resemblance to the recumbent animals found on rhyta of the same period. 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. To the Achaemenids, and Persians, the ram symbolized heaven, the male god, and power in warfare. Rams were also highly prized for providing wool, milk, meat and hides for leather.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
