Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Tel Brak, modern day Syria, ca. 4th century BCE. An interesting example of an idol whose defining feature are three wide "eyes" composed of two concentric circles. The rest of the idol is a gently widening, flattened stone body with a round hole drilled through it just below the eyes. Size: 2.3" L x 1" W (5.8 cm x 2.5 cm)

These idols were used for dedication to an all-seeing god who watched over the population of early Mesopotamia. They have been excavated from a building we call the Eye Temple; many are incised with multiple sets of eyes and others have "children" - smaller eyes and body carved on the body of the larger idol. Wide eyes meant attentiveness to the gods in Mesopotamian art.

Provenance: private California, USA collection

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#123939

Surface wear from age; side without eyes has an adhesive mark.