Lot 33
Ancient Near East, Holy Land, Israel (Canaan/the Levant), ca. 9th to 6th century BCE. An impressive example of a ceramic statue of the style known as a pillar figure depicting the goddess Asherah (Ashratu). She is a deity known to the Hebrews as well as the Akkadians, Hittites, and South Arabians and sometimes associated with Astarte/Ishtar. Here, she has a detailed and abstract face, including a mysterious rounded mouth and large, wide-open eyes, and a hugely exaggerated brow line that flows from the ears to the tip of the nose. Incised circles form a necklace and earrings on the surface of the sculpture. Her body is less detailed than her face, as is often the case with idol figures, and is a tapering cone that flares out at the base. Its major features are her breasts and her arms, which she holds underneath her breasts in a classic pose. Size: 2.9" W x 6.95" H (7.4 cm x 17.7 cm)
Like many of the goddess figures known from the ancient Near East, Asherah's role and attributes seem to have been complex, and the interpretations of early archaeologists have only muddied the waters of understanding them. Asherah has been variously associated with fertility, sexuality, voluptuousness, and prostitution. The Bible, in both Kings and Chronicles, warned the ancient Israelites against worshipping her because of the dangerous nature of her sexuality. However, figures like this one, also known as the asherim, were immensely popular in ancient Judea. They were kept in households, probably used in personal shrines, and may have been copies of a larger public statue.
Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection acquired before 2000
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#126303
- Condition: Repair on base that is difficult to see. Very fine remaining details on surface.
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