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
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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we welcome any additional information you might have.
Why is the center of this piece recessed? Are those stairs?
Those are stairs. This is an offering table made to be used after the burial of the Buchis bull. The steps symbolize a downward descent into the earth. Offerings of food would be placed in this depression for the bull to eat in the afterlife.
So awesome. Thank you!
