Ram Boeotia

(IVe century B.C.)

The adorable sculpture probably originates from the temple of the Cabeiri in Thebes. Thebes was the principal town of the Boeotia region and for a long time constituted an important political and military centre. This role as Athen’s counterpart came to an end in 335 B.C. when Alexander the Great totally destroyed the town. In mythology, Thebes is well known as the setting for many stories including those about Oedipus and Dionysus. The ram is probably a votive gift from someone in the important wool trade, dedicated to the Cabeiri as mysterious group of gods of Phrygian origin.