Fragment of a rhyton

This fragmentary ram's head originally crowned the end of a horn-shaped rhyton. The nose, ears and horns of the ram have disappeared, but the ends of the long, curved horns are still visible. The eyes are made of a brown paste. Rhytons were particularly popular in the Achaemenid kingdom, they were made of various materials. This fragment was acquired by the RMAH in Egypt at the beginning of the previous century. It is closely related to a gazelle-shaped rhyton currently preserved in the British Museum, which also originates from Egypt. The popularity of Achaemenid pottery in Egypt is also confirmed by the representation of a metal work shop, manufacturing this type of rhytons, in the tomb of Petosiris, dating to the end of the 4th century and located in Hermopolis Magna.