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This figure, dating to the time of the Old Testament, is probably a fertility goddess, with her hands in the traditional position for such figures, supporting her breasts. She appears in the clothing and hairstyle of Iron Age Israel.

Some scholars believe that figurines such as this one represent the Canaanite goddess Astarte, Queen of Heaven. The prophet Jeremiah went to lengths to condemn the worship of figurines—despite the emergence of monotheistic Israelite religion, the cult of fertility practiced within the home continued as before.

Compare this figure to the Mesopotamian Fertility Figurine (image 5)—do the differences in facial features and hairstyle show ethnic differences? In fact, it is difficult to say with certainty, but the comparison shows something of the difficulty archaeologists face in identifying ancient ethnicity.

Two Assyrian Officials

Name: Canaanite Fertility Figurine

Material: Ceramic

Size:
Height: 13 cm (5 in)

Date: 975-732 BCE, Iron IIA-B

Place of Origin: Stratum IV, Megiddo, Israel

Location: Oriental Institute Museum, Chicago, Illinois

Source and Registration#: Oriental Institute Museum A19023

Geoff Emberling

Former Chief Curator, Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago