Perhaps most dramatic, for our purposes, were the magico-religious transformations. Humanity did not always make sculpture, but when they did (around 30-25,000 years ago) one  More »

Perhaps most dramatic, for our purposes, were the magico-religious transformations. Humanity did not always make sculpture, but when they did (around 30-25,000 years ago) one of the first things they made were images of well- nourished women such as this. Interpreting the significance of art at such a remove from ourselves is of course problematic, but it seems likely that wealth and prosperity, and thus stability and fertility, were seen as one in the eyes of early people. Indeed, there are still areas of the world where such beliefs persist, where a large frame indicates a comfortable background and a good “bet” for matrimonial and reproductive purposes. One might also hazard that the huge investment of time and energy needed to make a figure such as this would not have been expended on a whim. The Neolithicvillage of Catal Huyuk is famous for producing works such as this, as well astheearliest“cult” behaviour in the form of white-plastered temples seemingly dedicated to a divinity symbolised by bulls. The temple of Stonehenge is a notable example of the social changes being wrought, and there are hundreds of similar structures that appeared across Europe in the wake of the Linearbandkeramik (LBK) culturethatdistinguished the Neolithicfarmersfromtheir Mesolithicpredecessors.Neolithic Fertility Goddess-AM.0099(LSO)Origin:Anatolia Circa:6000BCto4000BCDimensions:5.9"(15.0cm)high Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Stone   « Less

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land four millennia ago. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illumninated the path  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land four millennia ago. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illumninated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.0764)   « Less

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than three millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than three millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.2405)   « Less

A lamp such as this might have lit homes during the age of the Biblical patriarchs. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes during the age of the Biblical patriarchs. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.2408)   « Less

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than four millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than four millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.2443)   « Less

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than four millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than four millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.2550)   « Less

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than four millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than four millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than three millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.2551)   « Less

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than four millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than four millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than three millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.2552)   « Less

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than three millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land more than three millennia ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.2937)   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the very dawn of the biblical era. A wick placed in each of its four spouts would have created a bright glow. A  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the very dawn of the biblical era. A wick placed in each of its four spouts would have created a bright glow. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (PF.1809)   « Less