Goddess figurine
Clay
H: 15.1 cm; W: 6.9 cm
Israel Antiquities Authority
IAA:
2002-1187
Archaeology/Prehistoric Periods
The first gods appeared among agricultural communities some 8,000 years ago, and among their earliest representations were clay figurines in the shape of a female goddess. The goddess’s eyes, resembling cereal grains or date pits, represented fertility, and the red pigment, traces of which survive, symbolized earth and life. The high headgear recalls the headgear of rulers and gods in Ancient Near Eastern art.
From the Israel Museum publications:
Coen-Uzzielli, Tania, A Brief History of Humankind: The Exhibition, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 2015
Exhibitions:
In the Beginning: Prehistory and the Origins of Myth, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 13/07/2005 - 22/04/2006
A Brief History of Humankind, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 01/05/2015 - 02/01/2016
