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Biblical BOOK OF DANIEL Medieval Manuscript Folios
Original price was: $30,000.00.Current price is: $28,000.00.

Description

The Book of Daniel is one of the most loved and treasured books in the Bible. Not only is Daniel revered as one of the great ancient Hebrew prophets of old, but the Book of Daniel is seen as the key to deciphering the symbolism of the Book of Revelation in the New Testament.

Among ancient manuscripts, a manuscript of the Book of Daniel is considered to be a very special and rare treasure. In this Byzantine manuscript from medieval times, a portion of the Book of Daniel is preserved in ten folios as it was written circa 1400 C.E.

Coming from Italy in the 2nd half of the 14th century CE, this book measures 320 x 227 mm and includes 10 leaves. Each leaf/page has two columns of 48 lines written in black ink in a round gothic bookhand between four verticals and 49 horizontals ruled in plummet. There are rubrics of red, letters of running headings and chapter numbers alternately red and blue, initials of red or blue with cusps and flourishing of both colors extending beyond the height of the text to open each chapter.

TWO ILLUMINATED FOLIATE INITIALS and HISTORIATED INITIAL WITH TEXT-HEIGHT ACANTHUS BORDER in pastel colors and burnished gold (tiny area of dampstaining at top of margin of first three folios).

20th-century half pigskin (slightly rubbed at extremities).

These leaves must once have been part of an extremely handsome and elegantly produced folio Bible. The delicate forms of the acanthus sprays, their twisting leaves turning from pale blue to pink and orange and from yellow to orange, point to an origin in Umbria, probably Perugia, around the middle to third quarter of the 14th century CE.

Serious collectors and connoisseurs of old bibles, old manuscripts, and specifically old bible manuscripts will certainly appreciate the value of medieval illuminated manuscripts such as this one of the Book of Daniel. A rare manuscript treasure such as this one makes an outstanding addition to any fine book collection.

PROVENANCE:

The Reverend Anson Phelps Stokes (1874-1958): bookplate inside front cover. The noted clergyman in New York and New England, who also directed the philanthropy of his family’s foundation, had this manuscript as no 5 in the listing of his books, De Ricci and Wilson, Census, II, p.2276, where its acquisition from Goodspeed in 1935 and the presence of the Book of Job from the same manuscript, then in the Goodhart collection, New York were also noted. The manuscript passed from his son, the Reverend Anson Phelps Stokes II (1905-1986), Bishop of Massachusetts 1956-70, to the Episcopal Theological School, which in 1974 became part of the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.

CONTENT:

Book of Daniel ff.1v-10v, preceded by the incomplete prologue to Daniel (Stegmüller 494) and followed by the prologues to Hosea (Stegmüller 500 and 507).

Reference #

MS_BZ_1013

Civilization

Byzantine, Medieval , 1400 C.E.

Size

H. 32 cm x W. 22.7 cm

Price

Price available upon request

Provenance

Baidun Collection

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Biblical BOOK OF DANIEL Medieval Manuscript Folios
Original price was: $30,000.00.Current price is: $28,000.00.

Description

The Book of Daniel is one of the most loved and treasured books in the Bible. Not only is Daniel revered as one of the great ancient Hebrew prophets of old, but the Book of Daniel is seen as the key to deciphering the symbolism of the Book of Revelation in the New Testament.

Among ancient manuscripts, a manuscript of the Book of Daniel is considered to be a very special and rare treasure. In this Byzantine manuscript from medieval times, a portion of the Book of Daniel is preserved in ten folios as it was written circa 1400 C.E.

Coming from Italy in the 2nd half of the 14th century CE, this book measures 320 x 227 mm and includes 10 leaves. Each leaf/page has two columns of 48 lines written in black ink in a round gothic bookhand between four verticals and 49 horizontals ruled in plummet. There are rubrics of red, letters of running headings and chapter numbers alternately red and blue, initials of red or blue with cusps and flourishing of both colors extending beyond the height of the text to open each chapter.

TWO ILLUMINATED FOLIATE INITIALS and HISTORIATED INITIAL WITH TEXT-HEIGHT ACANTHUS BORDER in pastel colors and burnished gold (tiny area of dampstaining at top of margin of first three folios).

20th-century half pigskin (slightly rubbed at extremities).

These leaves must once have been part of an extremely handsome and elegantly produced folio Bible. The delicate forms of the acanthus sprays, their twisting leaves turning from pale blue to pink and orange and from yellow to orange, point to an origin in Umbria, probably Perugia, around the middle to third quarter of the 14th century CE.

Serious collectors and connoisseurs of old bibles, old manuscripts, and specifically old bible manuscripts will certainly appreciate the value of medieval illuminated manuscripts such as this one of the Book of Daniel. A rare manuscript treasure such as this one makes an outstanding addition to any fine book collection.

PROVENANCE:

The Reverend Anson Phelps Stokes (1874-1958): bookplate inside front cover. The noted clergyman in New York and New England, who also directed the philanthropy of his family’s foundation, had this manuscript as no 5 in the listing of his books, De Ricci and Wilson, Census, II, p.2276, where its acquisition from Goodspeed in 1935 and the presence of the Book of Job from the same manuscript, then in the Goodhart collection, New York were also noted. The manuscript passed from his son, the Reverend Anson Phelps Stokes II (1905-1986), Bishop of Massachusetts 1956-70, to the Episcopal Theological School, which in 1974 became part of the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.

CONTENT:

Book of Daniel ff.1v-10v, preceded by the incomplete prologue to Daniel (Stegmüller 494) and followed by the prologues to Hosea (Stegmüller 500 and 507).

Reference #

MS_BZ_1013

Civilization

Byzantine, Medieval , 1400 C.E.

Size

H. 32 cm x W. 22.7 cm

Price

Price available upon request

Provenance

Baidun Collection

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Book of Daniel, from a Folio Bible

Description

10 leaves, two columns of 48 lines written in black ink in a round gothic bookhand between four verticals and 49 horizontals ruled in plummet, rubrics of red, letters of running headings and chapter numbers alternately red and blue, initials of red or blue with cusps and flourishing of both colours extending beyond the height of the text to open each chapter, TWO ILLUMINATED FOLIATE INITIALS and HISTORIATED INITIAL WITH TEXT-HEIGHT ACANTHUS BORDER, in pastel colours and burnished gold (tiny area of dampstaining at top of margin of first three folios). 20th-century half pigskin (slightly rubbed at extremities).

CONTENT:

Book of Daniel ff.1v-10v, preceded by the incomplete prologue to Daniel (Stegmüller 494) and followed by the prologues to Hosea (Stegmüller 500 and 507).

These leaves must once have been part of an extremely handsome and elegantly produced folio Bible. The delicate forms of the acanthus sprays, their twisting leaves turning from pale blue to pink and orange and from yellow to orange, point to an origin in Umbria, probably Perugia, around the middle to third quarter of the 14th century.

Provenance:

The Reverend Anson Phelps Stokes (1874-1958): bookplate inside front cover. The noted clergyman in New York and New England, who also directed the philanthropy of his family’s foundation, had this manuscript as no 5 in the listing of his books, De Ricci and Wilson, Census, II, p.2276, where its acquisition from Goodspeed in 1935 and the presence of the Book of Job from the same manuscript, then in the Goodhart collection, New York were also noted. The manuscript passed from his son, the Reverend Anson Phelps Stokes II (1905-1986), Bishop of Massachusetts 1956-70, to the Episcopal Theological School, which in 1974 became part of the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.

REFERENCE #

MS_BZ_1013

CIVILIZATION

Italy, 14th Century

SIZE

H. 32 cm x W. 22.7 cm

CONDITION

Fine Condition

PRICE

Price available upon request

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Book of Daniel, from a Folio Bible

Description

10 leaves, two columns of 48 lines written in black ink in a round gothic bookhand between four verticals and 49 horizontals ruled in plummet, rubrics of red, letters of running headings and chapter numbers alternately red and blue, initials of red or blue with cusps and flourishing of both colours extending beyond the height of the text to open each chapter, TWO ILLUMINATED FOLIATE INITIALS and HISTORIATED INITIAL WITH TEXT-HEIGHT ACANTHUS BORDER, in pastel colours and burnished gold (tiny area of dampstaining at top of margin of first three folios). 20th-century half pigskin (slightly rubbed at extremities).

CONTENT:

Book of Daniel ff.1v-10v, preceded by the incomplete prologue to Daniel (Stegmüller 494) and followed by the prologues to Hosea (Stegmüller 500 and 507).

These leaves must once have been part of an extremely handsome and elegantly produced folio Bible. The delicate forms of the acanthus sprays, their twisting leaves turning from pale blue to pink and orange and from yellow to orange, point to an origin in Umbria, probably Perugia, around the middle to third quarter of the 14th century.

Provenance:

The Reverend Anson Phelps Stokes (1874-1958): bookplate inside front cover. The noted clergyman in New York and New England, who also directed the philanthropy of his family’s foundation, had this manuscript as no 5 in the listing of his books, De Ricci and Wilson, Census, II, p.2276, where its acquisition from Goodspeed in 1935 and the presence of the Book of Job from the same manuscript, then in the Goodhart collection, New York were also noted. The manuscript passed from his son, the Reverend Anson Phelps Stokes II (1905-1986), Bishop of Massachusetts 1956-70, to the Episcopal Theological School, which in 1974 became part of the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.

REFERENCE #

MS_BZ_1013

CIVILIZATION

Italy, 14th Century

SIZE

H. 32 cm x W. 22.7 cm

CONDITION

Fine Condition

PRICE

Price available upon request

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Bronze Double-Headed Bull Mace Head
Original price was: $30,000.00.Current price is: $25,000.00.

Civilization: Persian

Material: Bronze

Description

This Elamite **Bronze Double-Headed Bull Mace Head**, originating from the **Near East region** circa **2100–1550 B.C.E.**, is a striking example of ancient artistry and symbolism. The mace head features two imposing bull heads sculpted with remarkable detail and power, with their facial features exuding strength and dominance.

The bulls’ horns and expressions reflect the reverence for these animals in ancient cultures, often symbolizing fertility, power, and protection.

The handle, crafted in an **openwork lattice style**, showcases the artisan’s advanced skill in metalworking. The lattice pattern adds both aesthetic beauty and functional lightness to the piece. Though one of the bulls’ ears shows an ancient loss, the artifact remains in **fine condition**, its surface adorned with a rich natural patina, adding to its historical authenticity and appeal.

In the ancient Elamite kingdom, bulls were potent symbols of strength, fertility, and divine power, often associated with deities and rulers. This double-headed bull mace head likely held ceremonial or ritual significance, symbolizing authority, protection, or a connection to the divine. Its exquisite craftsmanship speaks to the advanced skills of the ancient Near Eastern metalworkers and their ability to imbue objects with profound cultural meaning.

REFERENCE #

WP_AT_1001

CIVILIZATION

Persian, Middle Bronze 2100 B.C.E. – 1550 B.C.E.

SIZE

L. 19 cm, W. 13 cm

CONDITION

Fine condition.

PRICE

$24850

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Bronze Double-Headed Bull Mace Head
Original price was: $30,000.00.Current price is: $25,000.00.

Civilization: Persian

Material: Bronze

Description

This Elamite **Bronze Double-Headed Bull Mace Head**, originating from the **Near East region** circa **2100–1550 B.C.E.**, is a striking example of ancient artistry and symbolism. The mace head features two imposing bull heads sculpted with remarkable detail and power, with their facial features exuding strength and dominance.

The bulls’ horns and expressions reflect the reverence for these animals in ancient cultures, often symbolizing fertility, power, and protection.

The handle, crafted in an **openwork lattice style**, showcases the artisan’s advanced skill in metalworking. The lattice pattern adds both aesthetic beauty and functional lightness to the piece. Though one of the bulls’ ears shows an ancient loss, the artifact remains in **fine condition**, its surface adorned with a rich natural patina, adding to its historical authenticity and appeal.

In the ancient Elamite kingdom, bulls were potent symbols of strength, fertility, and divine power, often associated with deities and rulers. This double-headed bull mace head likely held ceremonial or ritual significance, symbolizing authority, protection, or a connection to the divine. Its exquisite craftsmanship speaks to the advanced skills of the ancient Near Eastern metalworkers and their ability to imbue objects with profound cultural meaning.

REFERENCE #

WP_AT_1001

CIVILIZATION

Persian, Middle Bronze 2100 B.C.E. – 1550 B.C.E.

SIZE

L. 19 cm, W. 13 cm

CONDITION

Fine condition.

PRICE

$24850

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Civilization:	Persian
Material:	Bronze

Bronze Double-Headed Bull Mace Head
$25,000.00

This Elamite **Bronze Double-Headed Bull Mace Head**, originating from the **Near East region** circa **2100–1550 B.C.E.**, is a striking example of ancient artistry and symbolism. The mace head features two imposing bull heads sculpted with remarkable detail and power, with their facial features exuding strength and dominance.

The bulls’ horns and expressions reflect the reverence for these animals in ancient cultures, often symbolizing fertility, power, and protection.

The handle, crafted in an **openwork lattice style**, showcases the artisan’s advanced skill in metalworking. The lattice pattern adds both aesthetic beauty and functional lightness to the piece. Though one of the bulls’ ears shows an ancient loss, the artifact remains in **fine condition**, its surface adorned with a rich natural patina, adding to its historical authenticity and appeal.

In the ancient Elamite kingdom, bulls were potent symbols of strength, fertility, and divine power, often associated with deities and rulers. This double-headed bull mace head likely held ceremonial or ritual significance, symbolizing authority, protection, or a connection to the divine. Its exquisite craftsmanship speaks to the advanced skills of the ancient Near Eastern metalworkers and their ability to imbue objects with profound cultural meaning.[/vc_column_text]

REFERENCE #

WP_AT_1001

CIVILIZATION

Persian, Middle Bronze 2100 B.C.E. – 1550 B.C.E.

SIZE

L. 19 cm, W. 13 cm

CONDITION

Fine condition.

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Bronze Etruscan Harpago
Original price was: $20,000.00.Current price is: $17,000.00.

Civilization: Greek

Material: Metal

Description

A bronze Etruscan harpago, or underwater sponge collecting hook, with seven curved tines set radially around a central torus. The hook piece is set upon a large handle with a coiled design along its shaft. An additional pair of tines protrudes just below the torus at the top of the coiled shaft.

Reference: Cf. MFA Bronzes, p. 421, fig. 608. Published: HASB 1, 1975, 21ff

REFERENCE #

MW_GR_1006

CIVILIZATION

Etruscan, 600 B.C.E.

SIZE

H. 33 cm

CONDITION

Fine Condition, some of the tips are reattached.

PRICE

$17,000

PROVENANCE

Private Collection P.C. Nuremberg

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Civilization:	Greek
Material:	Metal

Bronze Etruscan Harpago

A bronze Etruscan harpago, or underwater sponge collecting hook, with seven curved tines set radially around a central torus. The hook piece is set upon a large handle with a coiled design along its shaft. An additional pair of tines protrudes just below the torus at the top of the coiled shaft.

Reference: Cf. MFA Bronzes, p. 421, fig. 608. Published: HASB 1, 1975, 21ff

REFERENCE #

MW_GR_1006

CIVILIZATION

Etruscan, 600 B.C.E.

SIZE

H. 33 cm

CONDITION

Fine Condition, some of the tips are reattached.

PRICE

$17,000

PROVENANCE

Private Collection P.C. Nuremberg

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Bronze Figurine of Horus as a Falcon
Original price was: $49,000.00.Current price is: $45,000.00.

Civilization: Egyptian

Material: Metal

Description

Solid cast, the bird is shown in a typical pose, wings crossed over the tail with the feathers all cleanly incised. It wears the double crown of Egypt and traces of gilding remains scattered over the surface. This probably once decorated the top of a sarcophagus.

The so-called Horus falcon is one whose characteristics do not conform exactly with any of the four species known to the Egyptians: it is an idealized falcon with elements inspired by more than one of the predatory birds. The falcon was revered from earliest times for its awesome climb into the heavens and its headlong yet sure swoop upon its prey. The earliest element of the royal titulary, which officially proclaimed the ruler’s name, was the Horus name by which the holder of the royal office and the royal bird were indissolubly linked. Horus was essentially protective of the king and so an image of a falcon held an inherent concept of protection. But in one creation legend, the creator god was held to be a falcon whose outspread wings formed the vault of heaven, his two eyes being the sun and moon. Thus the image of the falcon was also strongly associated with creation and regeneration.

Not surprisingly it was a form adopted by a number of Egyptian gods. Even the name Horus refers to more than one deity since Horus of Edfu, Horus the son of Isis and Osiris and Horus the Elder are three completely separate gods with only the name in common; all could manifest themselves as a falcon. In addition, the sun god Re, Monthu the Theban war god, Sokar the Memphite funerary god, Khonsu of Thebes, even one of the Sons of Horus called Qebhsenuef could appear as falcons or falcon-headed (and there are others), with only special attributes to help distinguish each from the other and the multiplicity of Horuses. If none of these distinctive features is present and there is no inscription, identification of a falcon as being the manifestation of a specific deity is frequently impossible.

REFERENCE #

SI_EG_1047

CIVILIZATION

Egyptian, 26th/30th Dynasty, 664 B.C.E. – 342 B.C.E.

SIZE

H. 14.4 cm

CONDITION

Excellent condition

PRICE

$45,000

PROVENANCE

Former French private collection, acquired ca. 1970. French Passport # 128908

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Bronze Figurine of Horus as a Falcon
Original price was: $49,000.00.Current price is: $45,000.00.

Civilization: Egyptian

Material: Metal

Description

Solid cast, the bird is shown in a typical pose, wings crossed over the tail with the feathers all cleanly incised. It wears the double crown of Egypt and traces of gilding remains scattered over the surface. This probably once decorated the top of a sarcophagus.

The so-called Horus falcon is one whose characteristics do not conform exactly with any of the four species known to the Egyptians: it is an idealized falcon with elements inspired by more than one of the predatory birds. The falcon was revered from earliest times for its awesome climb into the heavens and its headlong yet sure swoop upon its prey. The earliest element of the royal titulary, which officially proclaimed the ruler’s name, was the Horus name by which the holder of the royal office and the royal bird were indissolubly linked. Horus was essentially protective of the king and so an image of a falcon held an inherent concept of protection. But in one creation legend, the creator god was held to be a falcon whose outspread wings formed the vault of heaven, his two eyes being the sun and moon. Thus the image of the falcon was also strongly associated with creation and regeneration.

Not surprisingly it was a form adopted by a number of Egyptian gods. Even the name Horus refers to more than one deity since Horus of Edfu, Horus the son of Isis and Osiris and Horus the Elder are three completely separate gods with only the name in common; all could manifest themselves as a falcon. In addition, the sun god Re, Monthu the Theban war god, Sokar the Memphite funerary god, Khonsu of Thebes, even one of the Sons of Horus called Qebhsenuef could appear as falcons or falcon-headed (and there are others), with only special attributes to help distinguish each from the other and the multiplicity of Horuses. If none of these distinctive features is present and there is no inscription, identification of a falcon as being the manifestation of a specific deity is frequently impossible.

REFERENCE #

SI_EG_1047

CIVILIZATION

Egyptian, 26th/30th Dynasty, 664 B.C.E. – 342 B.C.E.

SIZE

H. 14.4 cm

CONDITION

Excellent condition

PRICE

$45,000

PROVENANCE

Former French private collection, acquired ca. 1970. French Passport # 128908

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Civilization:	Egyptian
Material:	Metal

Bronze Figurine of Horus as a Falcon

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Bronze Handle in the Shape of a Lion's Head — Bronze Handle in the Shape of a Lion’s Head

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Civilization:	Roman
Material:	Stone

Bronze Imperial Roman Bull Stomping Hoof

Civilization: Roman

Material: Metal

Description

This incredible Bronze Imperial Roman Bull statuette dating from 200 – 300 C.E. is decorated with two stylized markings on its flanks and one large ribbon across its torso. The bull’s powerful stance is accentuated by his head that is turned, as well as his front left leg that is raised in an aggressive stomping motion. Additional decorations are present on the bull’s head in the form of decorous curls. This Bronze Imperial Roman Bull statuette was part of a composed relief depicting a procession that leads to the sacrifice of the bull which was performed for the welfare of the Roman empire.

For more than 5,000 years, bronze and other copper alloys have been essential materials used to create everything from life-size sculptures to objects of daily life such as weapons, jewelry, tableware, and as featured here: This incredible Bronze Imperial Roman Bull statuette. Similar pieces are found in museums such as the Met Museum in New York City, but few found are as majestic and powerful as this piece.

Roman Bull in Cult of Magna Mater (Great Mother of the gods) Cybele

The religious practices of the Roman Empire of the 2nd to 4th centuries C.E. included the taurobolium, in which a bull was sacrificed for the well being of the people and the state. Around the mid-2nd century C.E. the practice became identified with the worship of Magna Mater (i.e. the Great Mother of the gods, Cybele), but was not previously associated only with that cult (cultus).

After 159 CE all private taurobolia inscriptions mention Magna Mater. Public taurobolia enlisting the benevolence of Magna Mater on behalf of the emperor became common in Italy, Gaul, Hispania, and Africa. The last public taurobolium for which there is an inscription was carried out at Mactar in Numidia at the close of the 3rd century C.E. It was performed in honor of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian.

Roman Bull in Eastern Cult of Mithras

Another Roman mystery cult in which a sacrificial bull played a role was that of the 1st-4th century C.E. Mithraic Mysteries. The cult of Mithras was very popular throughout the Roman Empire and was followed especially by soldiers. It was one of several eastern cults that spread rapidly as a result of the Pax Romana (Roman peace) – others included the worship of Jupiter Dolichenus, Manichaeism, and of course Christianity.

Shrouded in secrecy, ancient mystery cults fascinate and capture the imagination. Like all Greco-Roman mysteries, the cult of Mithraic Mysteries was limited to initiates, and there is very little known about the cult’s beliefs or practices. In the so-called “tauroctony” artwork of that cult (cultus) – and which appears in all its temples – the god Mithras is seen to slay a sacrificial bull. The tauroctony should not be confused with a “taurobolium”, which was an actual bull-killing cult act performed by initiates of the Mysteries of Magna Mater, and has nothing to do with the Mithraic Mysteries.

Although there has been a great deal of speculation on the subject, the mystery that the tauroctony scene was intended to represent remains unknown. Like the other ancient “mystery religions” such as the Eleusinian mysteries and the mysteries of Isis, Mithraism maintained strict secrecy about its teachings and practices, revealing them only to initiates. As a result, reconstructing the beliefs of the Mithraic devotees has posed an enormously intriguing challenge to scholarly ingenuity.

Owing to the Mithraic cult’s secrecy, we possess almost no literary evidence about the beliefs of Mithraism. The few texts that do refer to the cult come not from Mithraic devotees themselves, but rather from outsiders such as early Church fathers who mentioned Mithraism in order to attack it, as well as from Platonic philosophers who attempted to find support in Mithraic symbolism for their own philosophical ideas.

However, although our literary sources for Mithraism are extremely sparse, an abundance of material evidence for the cult exists in the many Mithraic temples and artifacts that archaeologists have found scattered throughout the Roman empire – from England in the north and west to Palestine in the south and east. The temples – called mithraea by scholars – were usually built underground in imitation of caves. These subterranean temples were filled with an extremely elaborate iconography: carved reliefs, statues, and paintings – depicting a variety of enigmatic figures and scenes. This iconography is our primary source of knowledge about Mithraic beliefs, but because we do not have any written accounts of its meaning the ideas that it expresses have proven extraordinarily difficult to decipher.

Sources:

1.) Met Museum – Bronze Statuette of Bull

2.) Met Museum – Bronze Plaque of Mithras slaying the bull

3.) Met Museum – Mystery Cults in the Greek and Roman World

4.) Harvard Art Museums – Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Bronzes

5.) Wikipedia – Sacred Bull Roman Empire

6.) Wikipedia – Taurobolium

7.) Wikipedia – Magna Mater, Cybele

8.) Wikipedia – Tauroctony

9.) Wikipedia – Pax Romana

10.) Ulansey, D., “The Origin of Mithraic Mysteries”, 1991; and
Ulansey, D., “Solving the Mithraic Mysteries” within: Biblical Archaeology Review, vol. 20, #5 (September/October 1994) pp. 40-53

11.) The Tertullian Project – The Roman Cult of Mithras

REFERENCE #

SI_RM_1085

CIVILIZATION

Roman, 200 C.E. – 300 C.E.

SIZE

H. 16 cm

CONDITION

Fine condition

PRICE

Price available upon request

PROVENANCE

The Baidun Collection, Ex German Private Collection, acquired in the 1980’s

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Bronze Imperial Roman Bull Stomping Hoof

Civilization: Roman

Material: Metal

Description

This incredible Bronze Imperial Roman Bull statuette dating from 200 – 300 C.E. is decorated with two stylized markings on its flanks and one large ribbon across its torso. The bull’s powerful stance is accentuated by his head that is turned, as well as his front left leg that is raised in an aggressive stomping motion. Additional decorations are present on the bull’s head in the form of decorous curls. This Bronze Imperial Roman Bull statuette was part of a composed relief depicting a procession that leads to the sacrifice of the bull which was performed for the welfare of the Roman empire.

For more than 5,000 years, bronze and other copper alloys have been essential materials used to create everything from life-size sculptures to objects of daily life such as weapons, jewelry, tableware, and as featured here: This incredible Bronze Imperial Roman Bull statuette. Similar pieces are found in museums such as the Met Museum in New York City, but few found are as majestic and powerful as this piece.

Roman Bull in Cult of Magna Mater (Great Mother of the gods) Cybele

The religious practices of the Roman Empire of the 2nd to 4th centuries C.E. included the taurobolium, in which a bull was sacrificed for the well being of the people and the state. Around the mid-2nd century C.E. the practice became identified with the worship of Magna Mater (i.e. the Great Mother of the gods, Cybele), but was not previously associated only with that cult (cultus).

After 159 CE all private taurobolia inscriptions mention Magna Mater. Public taurobolia enlisting the benevolence of Magna Mater on behalf of the emperor became common in Italy, Gaul, Hispania, and Africa. The last public taurobolium for which there is an inscription was carried out at Mactar in Numidia at the close of the 3rd century C.E. It was performed in honor of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian.

Roman Bull in Eastern Cult of Mithras

Another Roman mystery cult in which a sacrificial bull played a role was that of the 1st-4th century C.E. Mithraic Mysteries. The cult of Mithras was very popular throughout the Roman Empire and was followed especially by soldiers. It was one of several eastern cults that spread rapidly as a result of the Pax Romana (Roman peace) – others included the worship of Jupiter Dolichenus, Manichaeism, and of course Christianity.

Shrouded in secrecy, ancient mystery cults fascinate and capture the imagination. Like all Greco-Roman mysteries, the cult of Mithraic Mysteries was limited to initiates, and there is very little known about the cult’s beliefs or practices. In the so-called “tauroctony” artwork of that cult (cultus) – and which appears in all its temples – the god Mithras is seen to slay a sacrificial bull. The tauroctony should not be confused with a “taurobolium”, which was an actual bull-killing cult act performed by initiates of the Mysteries of Magna Mater, and has nothing to do with the Mithraic Mysteries.

Although there has been a great deal of speculation on the subject, the mystery that the tauroctony scene was intended to represent remains unknown. Like the other ancient “mystery religions” such as the Eleusinian mysteries and the mysteries of Isis, Mithraism maintained strict secrecy about its teachings and practices, revealing them only to initiates. As a result, reconstructing the beliefs of the Mithraic devotees has posed an enormously intriguing challenge to scholarly ingenuity.

Owing to the Mithraic cult’s secrecy, we possess almost no literary evidence about the beliefs of Mithraism. The few texts that do refer to the cult come not from Mithraic devotees themselves, but rather from outsiders such as early Church fathers who mentioned Mithraism in order to attack it, as well as from Platonic philosophers who attempted to find support in Mithraic symbolism for their own philosophical ideas.

However, although our literary sources for Mithraism are extremely sparse, an abundance of material evidence for the cult exists in the many Mithraic temples and artifacts that archaeologists have found scattered throughout the Roman empire – from England in the north and west to Palestine in the south and east. The temples – called mithraea by scholars – were usually built underground in imitation of caves. These subterranean temples were filled with an extremely elaborate iconography: carved reliefs, statues, and paintings – depicting a variety of enigmatic figures and scenes. This iconography is our primary source of knowledge about Mithraic beliefs, but because we do not have any written accounts of its meaning the ideas that it expresses have proven extraordinarily difficult to decipher.

Sources:

1.) Met Museum – Bronze Statuette of Bull

2.) Met Museum – Bronze Plaque of Mithras slaying the bull

3.) Met Museum – Mystery Cults in the Greek and Roman World

4.) Harvard Art Museums – Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Bronzes

5.) Wikipedia – Sacred Bull Roman Empire

6.) Wikipedia – Taurobolium

7.) Wikipedia – Magna Mater, Cybele

8.) Wikipedia – Tauroctony

9.) Wikipedia – Pax Romana

10.) Ulansey, D., “The Origin of Mithraic Mysteries”, 1991; and
Ulansey, D., “Solving the Mithraic Mysteries” within: Biblical Archaeology Review, vol. 20, #5 (September/October 1994) pp. 40-53

11.) The Tertullian Project – The Roman Cult of Mithras

REFERENCE #

SI_RM_1085

CIVILIZATION

Roman, 200 C.E. – 300 C.E.

SIZE

H. 16 cm

CONDITION

Fine condition

PRICE

Price available upon request

PROVENANCE

The Baidun Collection, Ex German Private Collection, acquired in the 1980’s

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Civilization:	Roman
Material:	Metal

Bronze Imperial Roman Bull Stomping Hoof

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Bronze Persian Axe Head

This remarkable ancient Elamite crescent axe features a distinctively curved, finely detailed blade that appears to emerge from the mouth of a bearded man, creating a powerful and evocative visual narrative. The figure of the bearded man, likely representing a deity or a legendary figure, is elegantly cast or carved, with a well-defined facial expression and beard, symbolizing strength or authority. The blade itself, attached seamlessly to the mouth, displays polished surfaces and sharp edges, indicative of high-quality craftsmanship from the Achaemenid periods. The axe’s shaft extends from the figure and is adorned with an intricate relief of a horse, symbolizing power, nobility, or martial prowess. The combination of the mythic figure, the dynamic crescent blade, and the equine motif reflects the sophisticated iconography and artistry characteristic of ancient Persia’s ceremonial weaponry. Crafted from bronze, this artifact exemplifies the masterful metallurgical techniques and symbolic artistry of the period.

REFERENCE #

WP_PR_1116

CIVILIZATION

Iron Age, 1200 B.C.E. – 900 B.C.E.

SIZE

L. 18 cm

CONDITION

Excellent condition, with dark green patina.

PRICE

$6998

PROVENANCE

The Private Collection of K. Baidun

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Bronze Persian Axe Head

This remarkable ancient Elamite crescent axe features a distinctively curved, finely detailed blade that appears to emerge from the mouth of a bearded man, creating a powerful and evocative visual narrative. The figure of the bearded man, likely representing a deity or a legendary figure, is elegantly cast or carved, with a well-defined facial expression and beard, symbolizing strength or authority. The blade itself, attached seamlessly to the mouth, displays polished surfaces and sharp edges, indicative of high-quality craftsmanship from the Achaemenid periods. The axe’s shaft extends from the figure and is adorned with an intricate relief of a horse, symbolizing power, nobility, or martial prowess. The combination of the mythic figure, the dynamic crescent blade, and the equine motif reflects the sophisticated iconography and artistry characteristic of ancient Persia’s ceremonial weaponry. Crafted from bronze, this artifact exemplifies the masterful metallurgical techniques and symbolic artistry of the period.

REFERENCE #

WP_PR_1116

CIVILIZATION

Iron Age, 1200 B.C.E. – 900 B.C.E.

SIZE

L. 18 cm

CONDITION

Excellent condition, with dark green patina.

PRICE

$6998

PROVENANCE

The Private Collection of K. Baidun

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Bronze Sabaean Bull Head

Bronze bull head

A rare Sabaean bronze bull head.

Cast around a solid terracotta core the naturalistically modelled head has grooved eyebrows and neck, recessed nostrils, small erect ears and eyes with dark stone inlays, the pupils drilled. The forehead is also recessed with a small circle above a crescent, symbolic of the bull’s connection with the moon god. The long upward curving horn remains intact (left), restored (right) horn. A loop for suspension or attachment on top of the head. A very Strong and imposing piece.Powerful, enigmatic, and deeply expressive, this is a commanding piece that speaks to the strength and spiritual significance of the bull in Sabaean culture.

**REFERENCE #**
SI_SA_1018

**CIVILIZATION SABAEAN,**

CIRCA 200 B.C. – 100 B.C.

**SIZE**

H.16 cm

**CONDITION**

Fine condition

(Right Horn Restored)

**PRICE**
$45,000

**PROVENANCE**

Christies 23.3.71 Property of a Gentleman, from Al-Jubah to the south of Marib

Private collection UK, acquired late 1960s

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Bronze Sabaean Bull Head

Bronze bull head

A rare Sabaean bronze bull head.

Cast around a solid terracotta core the naturalistically modelled head has grooved eyebrows and neck, recessed nostrils, small erect ears and eyes with dark stone inlays, the pupils drilled. The forehead is also recessed with a small circle above a crescent, symbolic of the bull’s connection with the moon god. The long upward curving horn remains intact (left), restored (right) horn. A loop for suspension or attachment on top of the head. A very Strong and imposing piece.Powerful, enigmatic, and deeply expressive, this is a commanding piece that speaks to the strength and spiritual significance of the bull in Sabaean culture.

**REFERENCE #**
SI_SA_1018

**CIVILIZATION SABAEAN,**

CIRCA 200 B.C. – 100 B.C.

**SIZE**

H.16 cm

**CONDITION**

Fine condition

(Right Horn Restored)

**PRICE**
$45,000

**PROVENANCE**

Christies 23.3.71 Property of a Gentleman, from Al-Jubah to the south of Marib

Private collection UK, acquired late 1960s

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Bronze Statuette of Osiris

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Bronze Statuette of Osiris

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Roman Bull in Cult of Magna Mater (Great Mother of the gods) Cybele

Roman Bull in Eastern Cult of Mithras

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