First Temple-era mold offers clues to mystery of ‘pagan’ female figurines in Holy City. First mold discovery in Jerusalem provides evidence that enigmatic clay artifacts — possibly linked to the goddess Asherah— were manufactured in biblical capital (Zev Stub, Times of Israel). This article includes an interview with Amit Re’em, one of the excavation directors and some new thoughts and details.
“The emphasis on the face has led researchers to conclude that it probably had an important cultural or religious significance, but it is not clear what it is,” Re’em said. Most likely, they served as private idols — perhaps the fertility goddess Asherah — or household amulets intended to bring blessing, protection or fertility, similar in purpose to a Hamsa symbol.I would like to hear more about why she rejects it. I try to resist the temptation to assume that everything excavated had to do with religion.Others have suggested these may have been common as toys, “but I don’t accept that theory,” Re’em said.
Some years ago I noted the discovery of some horse figurines, also in Jerusalem. As I mentioned there and elsewhere, I found the front half of one of those at the Tel Dor excavation in the 1980s.
This article raises a point that I raised in my post on the story yesterday:
The use of figurines during the First Temple period is still unclear. Their presence seems to contradict the biblical prohibition.But it doesn't ask the next question."Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness," Ben-Ami says, quoting the Book of Exodus 20:3. "We don't know exactly what the biblical prohibition refers to, but the archaeological reality is that figurines are found in every home.
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