Farnese Bull

The colossal marble sculpture group depicts the mythological punishment of Dirce, who is being tied to the horns of a wild bull. The bull is being restrained by the brothers Zethus and Amphion. It is a dramatic, twisting scene based on a lost Hellenistic Greek original.

The Farnese Bull is currently on display in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy. It was discovered in the 16th century during excavations of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. It originally formed part of the massive classical art collection of the Farnese family.

The surviving Roman marble statue was carved in the early third century CE as a copy of a massive Hellenistic bronze original. The original Greek bronze is attributed to the sculptors Apollonius and Tauriscus of Tralles. It was reportedly brought to Rome from the island of Rhodes during the Roman era.

The Farnese Bull is widely considered the largest single-block marble sculpture to have survived from classical antiquity. Because of its massive weight and complex, multi-figure composition, it was incredibly difficult to transport and restore. Its sheer scale made it one of the most awe-inspiring discoveries of the Renaissance.