God of Bouray

The God of Bouray is a Celtic bronze statuette dredged from the River Juine within Bouray-sur-Juine.

The statuette is of a cross-legged human figure with an oversized head and hooved feet.

[1]: 64  The statuette was not recognised as an archaeological piece until it was shown to Antoine Héron de Villefosse [fr] in 1911.

His whole body is rendered, but his head and neck make up more than half the height of the statuette.

Three layers of hair are rendered on the back of the head, giving the impression of depth.

On the front, two low relief quarter-circles on the torso mark the figure's pectorals and small dots render the nipples.

The legs are crossed in lotus position and end in hooves (described as goat or deer-like).

[1]: 64  The naturalism of the head seems to bear Roman influence and the statuette does resemble pieces from after the Roman occupation of Gaul in 52 BC,[a] but its facial features, seated position, and general disregard for proportions seem more archaic than this.

[8]: 90  Raymond Lantier and François Braemer are among those who identify the figure with Cernunnos,[3]: 86–87  but Guillaumet is among those unconvinced.

He points out that the lack of detail on the torso (and emphasis on the pectorals) are consistent with an anatomical cuirass,[7]: 174  though this is difficult to reconcile with the buttocks and shoulder blades.