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Buchis Bull Offering Table

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

The Buchis bull was associated with the war god Montu. Each Buchis was likely a wild bull, distinguished by its white body and black head.

The bull was mummified at its death and buried in a sandstone sarcophagus. After burial, priests made food and drink offerings to it on tables like this one.
MEDIUM Stone
  • Place Excavated: Armant, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 200 B.C.E.–300 C.E.
    PERIOD Late Ptolemaic Period to Roman Period
    DIMENSIONS 4 5/8 x 13 11/16 x 17 1/4 in. (11.8 x 34.7 x 43.8 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 32.2088
    CREDIT LINE Gift of the Egypt Exploration Society
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Flat, square top, with double channel around sides running into spout. In the center, a square depression into which four miniature flights of steps lead. No inscription.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Buchis Bull Offering Table, ca. 200 B.C.E.–300 C.E. Stone, 4 5/8 x 13 11/16 x 17 1/4 in. (11.8 x 34.7 x 43.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Egypt Exploration Society, 32.2088. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 32.2088_PS1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 32.2088_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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