CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C.

Bulls and cows were common in ancient art because of their mythical associations and use as sacrifices. This cow invites an association with the famous sculpture by the 5th century B.C. Greek sculptor Myron. The original, in bronze, was displayed on the Athenian Acropolis, and later taken to Rome. Although no known copies survive, the sculpture is well known from the many epigrams written by Greek and Latin authors. So lifelike was Myron's bronze that it was said to have attracted a bull and confused shepherds (see p. 144 in C. Mattusch, Greek Bronze Statuary: From the Beginnings Through the Fifth Century B.C.). For a similar bronze at the British Museum, London, see acc. no. 1873,0820.255.