Goddess
Goddess figurines are found throughout the ancient near east. They share many peculiar features in common despite sometimes being separated by great distance and time. The date and location data displayed for each artifact is that recorded on the museum tag.
Venus of Willendorf
Location:
Willendorf, Europe
Categories:
Large
Comments:
Limestone figurine discovered in 1908 in Willendorf, Austria. It is said to be 29,500 years old. Museum label dates it to 29,500 years old.
The Lady of Pazardzhik
Location:
Pazardzhik, Europe
Categories:
Large, Bird-faced
Comments:
This figurine was found in Bulgaria. The carved lines may represent tattoos. Her pinched face is typical of the 'bird face' figurines. Found in Bulgaria.
Terracotta Figurines
Location:
Sipinci
Categories:
T-Shaped, Bird-faced
Comments:
Figurines from Sipinci in Austria. Notice their pinched, bird face.
Yarmukian Goddess
Location:
Munhata, Southern Levant
Categories:
Large
Comments:
Munhatta and tel Ali, Yarmukian culture 8000 ya,
Seated goddess of Çatalhöyük,
Location:
Catalhoyuk, Anatolia
Categories:
Large, Lion
Comments:
Found in the neolithic strata at Çatalhöyük. Dated by Mellart to the 6th millennium BC.
Goddess from Catalhoyuk
Location:
Catalhoyuk, Anatolia
Period:
Chalcolithic
AL Chronology:
3500—3050 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
5500—3500 BC (period)
Categories:
Large
Goddess from Catalhoyuk
Location:
Catalhoyuk, Anatolia
Period:
Chalcolithic
AL Chronology:
3500—3050 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
5500—3500 BC (period)
Categories:
Large
Comments:
Konya
Goddess from Catalhoyuk
Location:
Catalhoyuk, Anatolia
Period:
Chalcolithic
AL Chronology:
3500—3050 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
5500—3500 BC (period)
Categories:
Large
Comments:
Konya
Violin Figurine
Location:
Beycesultan, Anatolia
Period:
Early Bronze I—Early Bronze III
AL Chronology:
3050—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
3500—2300 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin
Violin Figurine from Gilat
Location:
Gilat, Canaan
Period:
Early Bronze I
AL Chronology:
3050—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
3500—3000 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin
Comments:
A violin figurine from Gilat in Israel.
Violin Figurines from Gilat
Location:
Gilat, Canaan
Period:
Early Bronze I
AL Chronology:
3050—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
3500—3000 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin
Comments:
From Gilat, Israel.
Squatting Woman
Location:
Pano Chorio, Crete
Period:
Early Bronze I
AL Chronology:
3050—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
3500—3000 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin, Large
Comments:
Clay figurine of squatting woman.
Violin Figurines from Peki’in
Location:
Pek'in
Period:
Early Bronze I
AL Chronology:
3050—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
3500—3000 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin
Comments:
From Peki'in.
Violin Figurines
Location:
Beycesultan, Anatolia
Period:
Early Bronze I—Early Bronze III
AL Chronology:
3050—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
3500—2300 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin
Violin Figurines
Location:
Beycesultan
Period:
Early Bronze I—Early Bronze III
AL Chronology:
3050—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
3500—2300 BC (period)
Categories:
T-Shaped, Violin
Comments:
From Beycesultan.
Cattle Stall of Innana
Location:
Uruk, Mesopotamia
Period:
Early Bronze I
Era:
Uruk
AL Chronology:
3000—2800 BC (era)
Middle Chronology:
3750—3100 BC (era)
Categories:
Inanna, Ring Pole
Comments:
A vessel fragment depicting a cattle stall made from reeds. The posts were looped at the top in order to accept the beam. This ring-post was written sign for the goddess Innana. The cattle stall probably represents the temple of Innana.
Goats Feeding on Tree Leaves
Location:
Ur, Mesopotamia
Period:
Early Bronze III
Era:
Early Dynastic II—Early Dynastic III
AL Chronology:
2575—2250 BC (era)
Middle Chronology:
2700—2334 BC (era)
Categories:
Branch / Tree
Marble Violin Figurines from Cyclades
Location:
Antiparos, Greece
Period:
Early Bronze III
AL Chronology:
2500—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2687—2300 BC (period)
Categories:
T-Shaped, Violin
Comments:
From Antiparos in the Cyclades. Found in Grave 117.
Cycladic Figurine from Knossos
Location:
Knossos, Crete
Period:
Early Bronze III
AL Chronology:
2500—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2687—2300 BC (period)
Categories:
Cycladic
Comments:
Cycladic-type figurine from Crete.
Cycladic Figurines
Location:
Crete
Period:
Early Bronze III
AL Chronology:
2500—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2687—2300 BC (period)
Categories:
Cycladic
Comments:
Cycladic-type figurines with holes indicating that they were repaired after being broken.
Violin Figurines
Location:
Karatas Semayuk, Anatolia
Period:
Early Bronze III
AL Chronology:
2500—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2687—2300 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin
Comments:
Karatas - Semayuk, Alabaster,2600-2400 BC, Ankara
Violin Figurines
Location:
Semayuk, Anatolia
Period:
Early Bronze III
AL Chronology:
2500—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2687—2300 BC (period)
Categories:
T-Shaped, Violin
Comments:
From Karatas, Semayuk.
Stone Statuette from Crete
Location:
Sambas, Crete
Period:
Early Bronze IV
AL Chronology:
2200—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2300—2150 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin, Cycladic
Comments:
The earliest large statue found on Crete.
Anatolian Figurine
Location:
Kalinkaya, Anatolia
Period:
Early Bronze IV
AL Chronology:
2200—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2300—2150 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin
Ring Idol
Location:
Goller Bolgesi, Anatolia
Period:
Early Bronze IV
AL Chronology:
2200—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2300—2150 BC (period)
Categories:
Violin
Comments:
Goller Bolgesi, Lakes Region, Agate, 2250-2000 BC, Ankara
Gold Jewellery from Tell el-‘Ajjul
Location:
Tell el-Ajjul, Canaan
Period:
MB III
Era:
1st IP
AL Chronology:
2079—1952 BC (era)
Middle Chronology:
2191—2061 BC (era)
Categories:
Star, Plaque, Astarte
Comments:
Found in stratum II of Tell el-Ajjul associated with the Hyksos. The city may have been destroyed around 1570 BC by Ahmose, the founder of the 18th dynasty. Goddess plaque is thought to represent Astarte.
Woman with child
Location:
Cyprus
Period:
Middle Bronze II
AL Chronology:
1900—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2000—1700 BC (period)
Categories:
Plank
Comments:
These terracotta "plank" figurines have been found in both graves and settlements but their function is uncertain.
Goddess Figurine
Location:
Anatolia
Period:
Middle Bronze II
AL Chronology:
1900—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2000—1700 BC (period)
Categories:
Fertility
Offering Table
Location:
phaistos, Crete
Period:
Middle Bronze II
AL Chronology:
1900—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2000—1700 BC (period)
Categories:
Mountain
Comments:
Clay round offering table with high base and large cup with the representation of a goddess between two priestesses, clay "candlestic."
Princess of Bactria
Location:
Bactria
Period:
Middle Bronze II
AL Chronology:
1900—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2000—1700 BC (period)
Categories:
Large
Comments:
A figurine thought to a be a goddess. She is wearing a kaunakes - a flounced woolen garment. From Bactria, in modern day Afghanistan.
Horned Goddess
Location:
Nahariya, Canaan
Period:
Middle Bronze II
AL Chronology:
1900—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2000—1700 BC (period)
Categories:
Comments:
Mold for casting a goddess figurine, Nahariya, 19th-17th century BC, stone
Narundi
Location:
Susa, Elam
Period:
Middle Bronze II
AL Chronology:
1900—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
2000—1700 BC (period)
Categories:
Cult Figure
Comments:
A statue of the goddess Narundi who is identified in an inscription in Elamite and Akkadian. From the reign of Puzur-Inshushinak.
The Minoan Snake Goddess
Location:
Knossos, Crete
Period:
MB III
AL Chronology:
1650—2200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
1700—1600 BC (period)
Categories:
Lion, Serpent
Comments:
From the temple repositories at Knossos. The goddess wears a flounced skirt. She holds two snakes. A lion is perched on her head. Knossos.
Anat standing on a Horse
Location:
Lachish, Canaan
Period:
Late Bronze I—Late Bronze II
AL Chronology:
1530—1200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
1600—1400 BC (period)
Categories:
Anat, Plaque, Horse
Comments:
Gold plaque found in a temple at Lachish.
Gold plaques with goddess
Location:
Arsos, Cyprus
Period:
Late Bronze I—Late Bronze II
AL Chronology:
1530—1200 BC (period)
Middle Chronology:
1600—1400 BC (period)
Categories:
Branch / Tree
Comments:
From Sanctuary of Aphrodite of Arsos.