CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

As H. Hoffmann notes (no. 43 in O.W. Muscarella, Ancient Art: The Norbert Schimmel Collection) the original context of such freestanding animal sculptures is “in most cases no longer possible to ascertain; some undoubtedly formed part of the elaborate mythological sculpture groups that decorated Roman villas and nymphaea throughout the Mediterranean.” However, the roughly-hewn backside of the present example indicates that it perhaps originates from a relief or served as an architectural ornament. In addition to their association with Mithraic cults, bulls were also a central part of Roman suovetaurilia rites (state-sponsored sacrifices of pig, sheep and bulls to Mars) and thus had associations beyond the pastoral (see p. 152 in J.M.C. Toynbee, Animals in Roman Life and Art). For another marble bull, see no. 93 in M. Seefried Brouillet, ed., From Hannibal to Saint Augustine: Ancient Art of North Africa from the Musée du Louvre.