Statuette of a female
Some of the most elaborate representations of females in the art of the ancient Near East are images of divine and cult figures whose association with certain aspects of life made them essential to the welfare of humanity. Fertility, procreation, and the growth of crops and livestock were among the basic concepts identified with female divinities. Representations of nude females in clay, stone, and metal are the simplest and most obvious expression of these concepts, and such figures appear throughout antiquity in many regions.
This striking example in clay from the South Caspian region of northwestern Iran is hollow and probably served as a cult vessel as well as a sacred image.
This striking example in clay from the South Caspian region of northwestern Iran is hollow and probably served as a cult vessel as well as a sacred image.
Artwork Details
- Title: Statuette of a female
- Period: Iron Age II
- Date: ca. early 1st millennium BCE
- Geography: Northwestern Iran, Caspian region
- Culture: Iran
- Medium: Ceramic
- Dimensions: 12 3/8 × 6 5/16 × 2 5/8 in. (31.5 × 16 × 6.7 cm)
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1964
- Object Number: 64.130
- Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Iran
ca. 9th century BCE
Achaemenid
ca. 358–338 BCE
Iran
ca. 8th century BCE
Assyrian
ca. 9th–8th century BCE
Israelite
ca. 8th–7th century BCE
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.