Ancient Near East, Holy Land, Tell Brak, Middle Uruk period, ca. 4th millennium BCE. A hand-carved limestone idol of an abstract form. The figure is defined by a rough rectangular body with indented shoulders and dominated by huge, staring eyes with incised details. Tell Brak was a major Mesopotamian city in northeastern Syria, located on a trade route between the Tigris River Valley north to Anatolia, the Euphrates, and the Mediterranean Sea. The most famous building excavated at this huge site was the Temple of the Eyes, where thousands of figures made of stone with incised eyes have been found. Archaeologists believe that these idols were placed there as offerings as wide eyes meant religious attentiveness and devotion to the gods in Mesopotamian art. Custom wooden display stand included. Size: 1.2" W x 1.8" H (3 cm x 4.6 cm); 2.2" H (5.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#140720

Minor fading to incised details, minor abrasions, and small nicks to peripheries and most surfaces, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits throughout.