Bull's head rhyton at The Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Greece

myminifactory

This vessel, a stunning stone rhyton with the born of a bull's head, is an unparalleled masterpiece of Minoan art, crafted with meticulous precision to accurately render the natural features of its real-life counterpart. The snout is delicately outlined with an inlay of white seashell, while the preserved right eye sparkles with rock crystal, complemented by a rim and iris of vibrant red jasper. This rhyton would have been used for libations, as evidenced by the hole in the neck for filling and the corresponding hole in the snout for pouring out the liquid. Discovered in the Knosses-Little Palace, this artifact showcases the resurgence of stone carving artistry, which had experienced a decline during the Old Palace Period. The left side of the head and both horns have been skillfully restored. The revival and perfection of stone carving artistry during the New Palace times yielded numerous exquisite works of art. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, aiming to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help. Scanned using photogrammetry (Processed with Agisoft PhotoScan)