Earring with bull head terminal

Unknown

4th–mid 2nd century BC · Gold · Egyptian Art

Hoops formed of wound wire with animal head terminals are the commonest type of Hellenistic earring. The bull-head earring appears throughout the Mediterranean, probably a positive image because of the physical and sexual prowess attributed to bulls. Examples like this one predate those that have bead added to the collar of the earring behind the bull head.

Artist

Unknown

Date

4th–mid 2nd century BC

Medium

Gold

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910