Ca. late 4th to 2nd century BC. A lifesize sculpted marble head of a ram with wonderfully carved, spiral-shaped horns. The animal's head is mounted on an integral marble plinth. Its eyes are deeply incised and stare outward at the viewer. Lines beneath the eyes and along the muzzle give the impression of veins, indicating the power of the animal, who also has a gently curved snout, slits for nostrils, and a thin, closed mouth with slight outward bulges to indicate lips. The plinth suggests that this sculpture was probably the terminal of the armrest from a sculpted throne. A very similar example at the British Museum (see link below), found at a sanctuary to Demeter in Anatolia, likely came from Demeter's throne. Demeter, the goddess of architecture and grain, was often depicted with symbols of agricultural plenty. Rams were also a universal symbol of virility and power. It is easy to imagine this marble head gracing a magnificent throne, the hand of a goddess raised above it. See a similar but more eroded example at the British Museum (1859,1226.92).Size: L:190mm / W:290mm ; 16.22kgProvenance: Private East Coast, USA collection; USA collection, 2000s; German collection, 1990s; private French collection, 1970s.