Thracian Ram Head Rhyton Protome from 7th-6th Century BC Molten Bronze Lost Wax Casting “Cire Perdue” with Oxidized Green Patina Museum Reproduction SB0010

The protome, the only one of its kind found there to date, was brought by the founders of Apollonia, the ancient name of Sozopol. Archaeologists have reached a layer that dates from the time of the first Apollonians. The town was founded in the seventh century BCE by Greek colonists from Miletus.
The head of the dig team, Associate Professor Krustina Panayotova of the National Archaeological Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, said that the statuette was found in a pit where ritual drinking vessels (rhytons) were found, evidence that the first generations of Apollonians offered gifts to their gods at the spot.
Although Apollonia has been studied for many years in dozens of archaeological expeditions, no bronze objects have been found so far. Bronze from later eras has not been found, even though there were copper mines nearby, used by the first settlers.
The ram was a sacrificial animal, offered as a gift to the gods.
Measurements: H 5.9 cm with a weight of 94 gr