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Boeotian Greek

Goat, 5th century BCE

Now On View

Description

Maker

  • Unknown

Culture

Boeotian

Title

Goat

Year

5th century BCE

Medium

Terracotta

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • terracotta

Dimensions

Length: 10.9 cm (4 5/16 inches)

Type

  • Sculpture

Credit

Helen M. Danforth Acquisition Fund

Object Number

1997.19

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Recent Acquisitions

February 18 - April 16, 2000

This expertly modeled figurine of a goat is from the region of Boeotia, long considered the most important center of terra cotta production in ancient Greece. Although Boeotian figurines are among the most thoroughly studied of ancient terra cottas, their function is still hotly debated. Children may have used animal figurines like this goat as toys, while those discovered in sanctuaries may have been intended as votive gifts to the gods.

This piece was acquired for its exceptional quality (note the elegant forms of the horns, legs, and body) and its remarkable state of preservation. It also fills a gap in the Museum's collection of Greek terra cottas. Along with our Boeotian goddess, horse and rider, and the female figurines from Tanagra, the Museum can now show the stylistic development and iconographical range of Boeotian terra cottas from the early 6th to the 2nd centuries BC.

Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries

Technological advancements in the late 6th century BCE allowed local Boeotian sculptors to move from abstract forms to a more naturalistic style. While it is still slightly stylized, this goat figurine shows a progression toward an increasingly realistic form, with hints of red paint reflecting the use of color to give a naturalistic appearance. This goat figurine was probably left at a sanctuary as a symbolic substitute offering for a deity in place of a full animal sacrifice.

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Goat with the accession number of 1997.19. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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