• latw-194-1
    Gold recumbent lamb. (Courtesy of the Vedat Nedim Tör Museum, Istanbul)

Gold recumbent lamb

Date
Early 5th c BC?, Late Lydian (Persian)
Museum
Manisa, Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, 5289
Museum Inventory No.
5289
Material
Gold
Object Type
Jewelry and Ornaments
Site
Gökçeler?
Description
The ram is shown lying left with head facing. The body is stamped with dot-in-circles. Divided hoofs and their differentiation from lower legs are articulated by indentations. A row of granulation granules or beaded wire encircles the base. Height 2.8 cm, length of body 2.9 cm, Weight 14.28 g.
Comments
The ram was made from a former, like bronze formers recovered near ancient Bagis and modern Güre in eastern Lydia (Özgen and Öztürk 1996, 212-214 nos. 189-191). Similar gold recumbent animals have been recovered from the tumulus at Ikiztepe near ancient Bagis and modern Güre in eastern Lydia, and on a small ornament from Sardis, probably an earring (No. 136) (Özgen and Öztürk 1996, 193-197 nos. 151-158; Waldbaum 1987: 122 no. 719). Unlike some examples, No. 194 has no collar.
See Also
Baughan, “Lydian Burial Customs”.
Bibliography
Özkan 1991, 135; Dedeoğlu 2003, 48, fig.; forthcoming study by C.H. Roosevelt.
Author
CHG