Earring with head of a bull
Unknown Artist
2nd–1st century B.C.
Medium
gold
Dimensions
As Worn: H. 3.2 × W. 3.4 cm (1 1/4 × 1 5/16 in.)
Classification
Earring, bull head
Period
Ptolemaic Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
Accession Number
30.8.398
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gold earring, featuring the finely crafted head of a bull,ails from Egypt's Ptolemaic Period2nd–1st B.C.), a dynamic era when Greek rulers blended Hellenistic influences with deep-rooted Egyptian traditions. Measuring just 3.2 cm high and 3.4 cm wide when worn, its petite scale belies its grandeur, designed as personal adornment for elite wearers. Crafted from pure gold—a metal revered in ancient Egypt for its eternal shine and divine associations—this piece exemplifies the period's masterful jewelry techniques, likely involving repoussé or granulation to achieve intricate detai...