14/01/2026
Throughout history, the bull has been revered as the ultimate symbol of strength, power, abundance and resilience in various cultures around the world. From ancient civilizations to modern-day societies, the bull statue stands as an immortal emblem of vitality, determination and financial success.
Ancient Romans were ultra polytheists who believed gods were local. And since Romans were superstitious idolaters, they wanted all the gods they could get on their side. Especially those of their enemies. A pragmatic solution based on the believe, doubting their own gods have the same power abroad as at home. Thus, Romans did everything to ‘convince’ local gods to become pro-Roman.
In result, we can find sometimes splendid crossovers of local gods in Romanized style, as here in case of the bull. Coming from the Eastern province of Mesopotamia, the bull is an incredible timeless blend of Roman naturalism paired with local abstract expressions. Similar bull statues, made of terracotta, are know from the bordering Indus Valley culture. Other references of stylized images of bulls can be seen i.e. at ancient Minoan frescoes.
The highly expressively worked figure of a bull stands in powerful attire. The proud animal is massive with great emphasis to its mussels. Its off sized, slightly enlarged head (compared to the rest of the figure), is lowered with his vigorous horns pointing straight and forcefully to the front. The overall work appears astonishing timeless and is surely a unique work of art. The bull served once most probably as an offering to a local temple and might relate the figure to either Legio III Gallica (initially found in Republican Roman times by Julius Caesar) fighting in Trajan’s Parthian Wars or Legio III Parthica, which was a legion of the Imperial Roman Army founded in AD 197 by the emperor Septimus Severus for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence the cognomen Parthica. The symbol for both legions was a bull.
Figure of a Bull
Roman Empire
Eastern Province (Asyria, Mesopotamia)
app. 2nd Century AD
bronze
ca. 12,5 cm
Price on request
