Bronze stag from Madinat al-Zahra'
Type:
Sculptures,
Fountains
Date:
Second half of the tenth century
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
Spain
Medium:
Bronze
Dimensions:
32.3 × 31.5 × 10 cm
Description:
Excavations at Madinat al-Zahra' uncovered this small bronze stag, which was once part of a fountain. Water was pumped up through the stag's hollow body so that it could pour from its open mouth. Light reflecting off the ripples in a courtyard basin would then have created patterns of light across the engraved patterns on its body.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
5,
6
Repository and Online Resources:
• The bronze stag is now in Madrid's Museo Arqueológico Nacional de España.
• See the stag in a video from the Museo Arqueológico Nacional de España.
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
