Female figurine

Ashdod

Iron Age I, 12th century BCE

Pottery

H: 17 cm

IAA:

1968-1139

Archaeology/Israelite & Persian Periods

Photo © Israel Museum, Jerusalem, by Meidad Suchowolski

This schematic figurine of a woman whose body merges with her throne is nicknamed “Ashdoda,” after Ashdod, the city in which it was found. It seems to have been inspired by figurines of seated women from Greece. In some of them, the woman is shown holding a child. Thus they may represent a mother goddess.

From the Israel Museum publications:

Hestrin, Ruth, The Philistines and the other Sea Peoples, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1970

The Israel Museum, Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2005

Zalmona, Yigal, ed., The Israel Museum at 40: Masterworks of Beauty and Sanctity, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 2005

Exhibitions:

Philistines and the other Sea People, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 10/03/1970 - 31/10/1970
1001 Characters: Figurines from the Studio of Yaacov Kaufman, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 10/12/2020 - 31/01/2022

Digital presentation of this object was made possible by:

The Ridgefield Foundation, New York, in memory of Henry J. and Erna D. Leir