Magnificent Bronze Sculpture of a Goat - FZ.117
Origin: Syria
Circa: 1200 BC to 700 BC
Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high
Catalogue: V1, V4
Collection: Biblical
Style: Iron Age
Medium: Bronze

Crafted in a vigorous abstract style, this superb creature probably served a ritual purpose. The slot in his back and the hinged opening on his belly suggest that he was meant to contain something which could be retrieved at a later point, much as a modern piggy bank or ballot box might. Though his exact function remains a mystery, it is clear that an early bronze of this size and splendor was a rare and costly treasure in its own time: in our age, it is even more so. - (FZ.117)