Standing Female Figure

This standing statuette consists of a flat body with long narrow legs that are parallel to each other; the proper left leg is shorter than the right. The body is flat except for a rounded oval form bisected by a groove to represent the buttocks. The arms are bent upward and touch the sides of the head at the ears. The head has a prominent nose, two rounded eyes, and eyebrows in relief that extend sideways from the bridge of the nose. A rounded cap-like projection crowns the head. The back of the head and upper body are flat and featureless.

When viewed in profile, sharp ridges, especially on the right side of the torso, suggest that this statuette may have been cast in a bivalve stone mold. The proportions of this unusual figure recall the products of the Byblos workshops. While this figure is ambiguous in terms of gender, it might represent a female deity or worshipper.

David G. Mitten