Head of a camel
Unknown Artist
332–30 B.C.
Medium
Terracotta, white slip
Dimensions
H. 4.8 × W. 2.5 × D. 4.8 cm (1 7/8 in. × 1 in. × 1 7/8 in.)
Classification
Head, camel
Period
Ptolemaic Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1932
Accession Number
32.3.343
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta head of a camel, crafted during Egypt's Ptolemaic Period332–30 B.C.), captures the exotic allure of the era when Greek rulers blended Hellenistic influences with ancient Egyptian traditions. Measuring just under 2 inches tall, the sculpture features a smooth white slip—a thin layer of fine clay applied before firing—to enhance its surface and mimic polished stone, a technique common in Ptolemaic workshops for both aesthetic appeal and durability. Ptolemaic Egypt saw increased use of camels for long-distance trade and military campaigns across the deserts, making them ...