Marble
H: 33.5 cm
Allegedly from the region of Polatli (Galatia, Anatolia)
Early Bronze Age II
Mid 3rd millennium B.C.
Condition: whitish, granular marble; surface weathered and with yellowish deposits. Large break on lower right side of the body and chipping on left side of head.
This female fertility idol was probably part of a double figure. This is supported by the large break on the right side with a higher hip-line and a shorter right arm. There are examples of paired or double idols of different materials in Bronze Age Anatolia.
A very close parallel is the "Sykeon idol" [1]. The height (32 cm) is almost the same, as well as the shape of the figure, the outline, the breasts, nose, etc. It is interesting to note that ancient Sykeon, modern Sarilar in Galatia, is only some 70 km distant from Polatli.
On view : Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva: 1971-1973
Exhibited and Published:
Art Antique, cat. no. 17, ill.
Kunst der Kykladen, cat. no. 559, pp. 561-562, 401 ill.
1 Crowfoot, J.W.: Exploration in Galatia Cis Halym, JHS 19, 1899, p. 34 fig. 1.
