Description:

Near East, Syro-Hittite, ca. 2800 to 2000 BCE. A pottery idol, hand-modeled and hand-molded, and probably depicting the goddess Astarte. She stands with her arms outstretched. The goddess wears a necklace, huge headdress, bracelets, and belt. Her breasts, belly button, and genitals are depicted in a stylized manner. Similarly, her face is incredibly abstract, dominated by a pair of huge eyes made from concentric coils of pottery and a long, thin nose. This figure uses some often-repeated motifs for ancient Near Eastern idols: outstretched arms, which researchers have interpreted to mean an act of supplication, and wide eyes that researchers believe emphasizes attentiveness to the gods. Astarte is the goddess who is also known as Ishtar in some parts of Mesopotamia, associated with femininity, motherhood, and war. Comes with custom stand. Size: 3.2" W x 6.15" H (8.1 cm x 15.6 cm); height on stand: 6.95" (17.7 cm).

Provenance: ex-private East Coast, USA collection

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#120756

  • Condition: Intact, with small areas of surface encrustations

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April 12, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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