A mysterious treasure from the dawnof Westerncivilization,thisstonevotivewasoffered thousands of years ago at the shrine of a powerful god. With acacheofrelatedartifacts, it was discovered along the shores of Lake Van in Turkey. The deity whose favor it soughtwasapparentlyanaturegod,associatedalsowithfertilityandrebirth Thissuperbstatue depicts a standing votary, carved in an elegantly simple fashion. His head, when seen in profile, becomes the body of a bird. In this ancient cult, the bird seems associatedwiththedeaofhesoul,perhapsatransformationintheafterlife.Theimageengravedonthebottomofthevotivedepictsaseatedidol.Pressedintosoftwaxorclay,itwouldhaveproducedmultipleimagestopleasetheheavens. The effect of this rare sculpture is powerfulandhaunting.Ittouchesachorddeepinthesoul,somethingancientbutnotcompletely forgotten. - (D.0023)Man/Bird Votive Figure with an Intaglio - D.0023Origin: Lake Van,Anatoli Circa:4000BCto3000BCDimensions:5.375(13.7cm)highx1(2.5cm)Collecton: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite

Antiquities
Ancient Near East