Roman Ivory Knife Handle with Hound and Hare Motif astarte reflecting the profound cultural and

reflecting the profound cultural and material shifts brought about by the Muslim conquest of the region

last revised April 2010

refined workmanship

The male figure

bridging the practical world of the scholar’s studio with the eternal domain of the afterlife

Roman Ivory Knife Handle with Hound and Hare Motif astarte reflecting the profound cultural andThe Roman Empire, c. 200300 AD An absolutely stunning example of Roman craftsmanship, this delicately carved zoomorphic ivory knife handle showcases a hound and hare motifa captivating depiction of nature and hunting. The rectangular handle is beautifully embellished with the figures of a lean hound and a slender hare, rendered with remarkable detail. The hounds well moulded limbs and elongated head, with the snout almost touching the hares tail,