Indus Valley terra-cotta bull, painted stripes, circa 3,000 BC

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Indus Valley culture terra-cotta model of a bull, modeled standing with prominent hump, on an octagonal plinth, painted in iron red pigments with stripes. Pre-Harappan culture,Northern India / Pakistan, circa 3,000 BC

Condition

wear & encrustations

Size

10cm snout to tail

References

The large hump is typical of Indian cattle, the Bos indicus strain which is sacred to the Hindu faith. (An American breeding program in the 19th/20th century developed the more familiar Brahman cattle from this Indian origin). These pre-Harappan culture pieces of course pre-date the modern beliefs - and yet, the status indicated by pottery figures such as this show that they were highly regarded even 5,000 years ago.

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