Ram in a Thicket

Statuette of a goat perched against a bush looking for food; tree is of gold leaf; goat has face and legs of gold leaf; ears of copper-alloy; horns, eyes and shoulder fleece of lapis lazuli; body fleece of white shell; originally mounted on wooden core; pedestal with mosaic decoration in shell and red limestone; tube rising from shoulders indicates that it was used as a support for something, possibly a small table. The portrayal of an animal and plant life symbolises nature and fertility, which were of crucial importance in the Sumerians and featured highly in their religion and art. The statue was one of a pair found at Ur in grave PG 1237, the Great Death Pit. The other is in the University Museum in Philadelphia.