The Farnese Bull (Toro Farnese)

Detail of the Farnese Bull (Toro Farnese, Taureau Farnese, Farnesische Stier ) is a massive Roman elaborated copy of a Hellenistic sculpture. It is the largest single sculpture yet recovered from antiquity. This colossal marble sculptural group represents the myth of Dirce first wife of Lykos, King of Thebes. She was tied to a wild bull by Amphion and Zethus, the sons of Antiope, who wanted to punish Dirce for the ill-treatment inflicted on their mother. Sculpture unearthed in 1546 during excavations at gymnasium of the Roman Baths of Caracalla. - The sculpture is dated to the Severian period (A.D. 222-235). Marble. Dimensions (H) 3,70 m x (L) 3 m. The sculpture weighs 21.8 tonnes. inv. 6002. Farnese sculptures collection. - Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. (National Archaeological Museum of Naples , Musée archéologique national de Naples , Archaologisches Nationalmuseum Neapel ). - Naples, Italy. 2022.

ID

AKG9147743

EventDate

2022-01-02

Credit line

Eric Vandeville / akg-images

Collection

Photographe

Technique

Période

Sujet

Lieu

Personne

High