A mysterious token from the dawn of Western civilization, this stone votive was offered thousands of years ago at the shrine of a powerful god. With a cache of related  More »

A mysterious token from the dawn of Western civilization, this stone votive was offered thousands of years ago at the shrine of a powerful god. With a cache of related artifacts, it was discovered along the shores of Lake Van in Turkey. The deity whose favor it sought was apparently a nature god, associated also with fertility and rebirth. This superb statue depicts a reclining votary confronting the head of a bird that springsfromtheoppositeendofthesculpture.Inthisancientcult,thebirdseemsassociated withtheideaofthesoul,perhapsatransformationintheafterlife.Theimageengravedonthebottom of the votive depicts a seated idol. Pressed into soft wax or clay, it would have produced multiple images to please the heavens. The effect of this rare sculpture is powerful and haunting. It touches a chord deep in the soul, something ancient but not completely forgotten. - (D.0037)Man/Bird Votive Figure With An Intaglio-D.0037Origin: Lake Van,Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 1.625" (4.1cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style:Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

Originally an offering at the shrine of a powerful deity,this votive seal was discovered with a cache of related artifacts along the shores of Lake Van in Turkey.The cult  More »

Originally an offering at the shrine of a powerful deity,this votive seal was discovered with a cache of related artifacts along the shores of Lake Van in Turkey.The cult most likely centered around a nature god, one concerned with fertility and rebirth. Birds were clearly important to this cult, perhaps being associated with.This is an extremely fine example of early animals culture.Depicting a stylized bird,its base bears the intaglio image of a seated idol.Pressed into soft wax or clay,it would have created multiple images to please the deity. Abstract and elegant yet closely observant of nature, this remarkable seal evokes a vanished world at the dawn of Western culture. - (D.0041)Bird Effigy Votive Seal With An Intaglio-D.0041Origin:Lake Van,Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimensions: 2.25" (5.7cm) high x 3.5" (8.9cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style:Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

The Old Testament is full of stories of the false gods of Canaan, of which this is surely one, most likely Ba'al. The deity is presented simply, yet majestically, wearing a  More »

The Old Testament is full of stories of the false gods of Canaan, of which this is surely one, most likely Ba'al. The deity is presented simply, yet majestically, wearing a tall, conical hat to designate his power. In spite of its small size, the statue projects an aura of strength which makes it easy to comprehend why he caused the ancient Hebrews so much worry. - (FZ.095)   « Less

Origin: Syria Circa: 1900 BC to 1600 BC Dimensions: 2.375" (6.0cm) high Collection: Biblical Style: Canaanite Medium: Terracotta

Origin: Syria Circa: 1900 BC to 1600 BC Dimensions: 2.375" (6.0cm) high Collection: Biblical Style: Canaanite Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Origin: Israel Circa: 900 BC to 700 BC Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Iron age

Origin: Israel Circa: 900 BC to 700 BC Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Iron age   « Less

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture,  More »

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful nature god. The design that adorns them—of birds, animals, seated idols—probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god. It is possible that the bird, arecurringmotif, wasassociatedwiththeideaofthesoul.Carvedithabstractsimplicitybutanobservanteyetowardnature,thestarkvisualappealofthispieceistimeless.Thesesealsrepresent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, andhappiness that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0044)Bird Effigy Votive Seal with Intaglio - D.0044Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture,  More »

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful nature god. The design that adorns them—of birds, animals, seated idols—probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god. It is possible that the bird, a recurring motif, was associated with the idea of the soul.Carved with abstract simplicity but an observant eye toward nature,the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless.These seals represent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, and happiness that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0045)Bird Effigy Votive Seal with Intaglio - D.0045Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture,  More »

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful nature god. The design that adorns them—of birds, animals, seated idols—probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god. It is possible that the bird, arecurringmotif, wasassociatedwiththeideaofthesoul.Carvedithabstractsimplicitybutanobservanteyetowardnature,thestarkvisualappealofthispieceistimeless.Thesesealsrepresent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, andhappiness that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0045)Bird Effigy Votive Seal with Intaglio - D.0045Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel,  More »

The Phoenicians were one of the most important civilisations of the ancient world, and flourished from around 1500 to 300 BC. Their world was centred on Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria, while their sphere of conquest and influence extended throughout the Mediterranean and even beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar) and into the Mediterranean-Atlantic. Their power was due primarily to their mastery of seamanship – which they developed to a whole new level during their pre-eminence – and extremely well-organised administration which was strengthened by extensive use of the alphabet. Indeed, it was the Phoenicians who introduced the alphabet to the Greeks, who in turn passed it onto the rest of the Western World. They were essentially Canaanites, to whom they were identical in sociocultural and material terms, the only difference being the massive range over which their cultural remains and heritage can be found. Phoenician society was comparatively stable when compared to the changeable fortunes of other Eastern Mediterranean cultures, primarily due to its broad royal, political and religious foundations. The town of Byblos became a major hub for trade all over the Fertile Crescent, followed by Tyre and Sidon; overseas territories notably included Carthage (founded 814 BC), but they either took over or culturally dominated trading ports from Cyprus to Malta, Spain, Portugal and Sardinia. They traded in purple dye (“Tyrian Purple”), textiles, luxury ceramics, silver, tin (with England) and glass, explored down the west coast of Africa as far as the Gulf of Guinea, and may even have circumnavigated Africa in around 600 BC. - (FJ.5366)   « Less

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture,  More »

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful nature god. The design that adorns them—of birds, animals, seated idols—probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god. It is possible that the bird, arecurringmotif, wasassociatedwiththeideaofthesoul.Carvedithabstractsimplicitybutanobservanteyetowardnature,thestarkvisualappealofthispieceistimeless.Thesesealsrepresent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, andhappiness that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0045)Bird Effigy Votive Seal with Intaglio - D.0045Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less