5,000-Year-Old Kneeling Bull Statue Unearthed in Iran Reveals Mysteries of the Past

Quick Summary:

• Artifact Name: Kneeling Bull
• Description: A 5,000-year-old silver figurine depicting a bull in a human-like pose, holding a spouted vessel.
• origin: Made in ancient Elam (modern-day southwestern Iran) by the Proto-Elamite civilization (3100-2900 B.C.).
• Materials & Composition: Constructed from 98.5% pure silver with five limestone pebbles inside for rattling sound and fiber made of animal yarn adhered to it. 6.4 inches tall (16.3 cm).
• Design Features: Hybrid creature combining bovine and human characteristics-bovine head with curved horns atop human-like shoulders; clothed in decorated robe; arms ending in hooves holding vessel.Lacks flat base for standing upright on hard surfaces.
• Purpose / Usage: Likely used in rituals or as a “foundation figurine” buried to mark sacred temple grounds during construction within Proto-elamite culture traditions of animal-human hybrid symbolism.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The Kneeling Bull exemplifies the remarkable artistic and ceremonial sophistication of early civilizations like the Proto-Elamites, contemporaneous with the Indus Valley Civilization-a key component of ancient India’s cultural heritage during that era. Both cultures demonstrate divergent yet comparable advancements,including intricate depictions of animals and humans symbolizing deeper ritualistic meanings.

For India, this artifact serves as an inspiration to delve into links between neighboring ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Elam, and India’s own past-the Harappan cultural sphere where seals showing mythical creatural hybrids were also prominent. As archaeological technology progresses globally-including within India-it highlights how cross-civilizational comparative research coudl enrich understanding about shared mythology or trade practices across regions at the dawn of history.

India’s efforts toward broader,interdisciplinary studies not only help uncover connections but also underscore South Asia’s contributions to global antiquity narratives that include artistic experimentation alongside deeply rooted rituals shaping societal beliefs.

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