Ori Olokun (Head of Olokun)

The Ori Olokun ("Head of Olokun") is perhaps the most famous Ife bronze, discovered in 1910 near the shrine of the sea god Olokun. The brass head, created around 1300 CE, shows idealized human features with the serene expression characteristic of classical Ife art. The five-lobed crown and facial striations indicate royal or divine status.

German archaeologist Leo Frobenius controversially claimed the head proved Ife was founded by Atlanteans, unable to believe Africans created such sophisticated art. Nigerian scholars rejected this racist interpretation, demonstrating that Ife developed independently as a major artistic center. The Ori Olokun remains Nigeria's most celebrated artifact.

The head is a treasure of the National Museum Lagos, one of the few major Ife bronzes remaining in Nigeria.