In 1937, archaeological excavations in Northern Syria at the site of Tell Brak uncovered evidence of the “Eye Temple,” named after the hundreds of small eye idols  More »

In 1937, archaeological excavations in Northern Syria at the site of Tell Brak uncovered evidence of the “Eye Temple,” named after the hundreds of small eye idols found fixed into the mortar of the temple itself. Located off a tributary of the Euphrates River, Tell Brak was one of the first large cities in Mesopotamia that would later serve as an administration center for the Akkadian Empire. However, even during the Chalcolithic era, the region of Northern Syria was an extremely important center for trade, linking the civilizations of Babylon with the mountainous areas of modern-day Turkey Little is known about eye idols and their name derives solely from their appearance. Shaped like a weight surmounted by two eyes, much scholarly conjecture has been proposed about their meanings. Some see them as the earliest link to wide-eyed figurative idols that would become popular in later millennia. It is noted that the state of open eyes on a religious idol symbolized devotion to the gods. Thus these little stone eye idols might have been some of the earliest devotional objects from the Near East. Other scholars believe that their function might have been more practical. It is believed that some of the larger idols with drilled holes in them may have served as aids in twisting threads of wool or linen into chord. It is also possible that the round features assumed to be eyes may actually be breasts, and the base in fact a torso.   « Less

n the Temple of Jerusalem and in synagogues throughout the ancient world, the fragrant smoke of incense filled the air. The high priest burned this aromatic blend of spices  More »

n the Temple of Jerusalem and in synagogues throughout the ancient world, the fragrant smoke of incense filled the air. The high priest burned this aromatic blend of spices and gums on a special altar before the Holy of Holies. The smoke was intended to purify the air of the sanctuary and to please the deity. A costly offering, incense was considered the worthy gift of princes and heads of state. It also carried great spiritual significance hence the saying, ‘Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice,’ (Psalms 141:2). The mahta, or incense shovel, was employed in the ritual of burning and for removing the ashes afterwards. This splendid example, free from graven images, was almost certainly used in a synagogue of the Roman Period. The handle is in the form of a Corinthian column on top of an animal hoof. The rectangular pan has been decorated with scrolling and rosette motifs executed in raised relief on the exterior.   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1293 BC to 1185 BC Dimensions: 14.5" (36.8cm) high x 27.7" (70.4cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: 19th Dynasty Medium: Limestone Seti's father,  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1293 BC to 1185 BC Dimensions: 14.5" (36.8cm) high x 27.7" (70.4cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: 19th Dynasty Medium: Limestone Seti's father, Ramesses II, began the 19 Dynasty during Egypt's New Kingdom period. His brief two-year reign allowed his son to take the throne and formally begin one of the most important periods in all Egyptian history. Seti instituted massive building and restoration projects throughout Egypt. These monuments are covered with relief sculpture of exquisite style. Seti's was the father of Ramesses II, who built the great complex at Abu Simbel and is believed to have been pharaoh at the time of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt. This scene is simple, yet profound. Here, a dignified male figure, identified as Seti I, piously extends his offering of incense toward an unseen deity, immediately taking his place beside those who have performed this act in the past and those who will do so in the future. The pharaoh is depicted in a composite pose so characteristic of Egyptian art: his face is shown in profile while his torso is shown from the front. Rather than disrupt the flow of the figure, Egyptian artists used this arrangement to present the fullest or most typical features of each part of the human body. A delicately carved incense burner, which terminates in the head of a hawk, is held in the left hand. The right arm is positioned lower than the left as indicated by the curve of the right shoulder. Perhaps Seti I is actually making a double sacrifice. Might he possibly be pouring sacred water or oil from his unseen arm? He wears a wonderfully carved striped cloth nemes headdress flanked by two large uraei cobras, indicative of his royal stature.   « Less

The Roman occupation of Ancient Israel is a torrential chapter in the history of both the Roman Empire as well as the Jews that would ultimately lead to the expulsion of  More »

The Roman occupation of Ancient Israel is a torrential chapter in the history of both the Roman Empire as well as the Jews that would ultimately lead to the expulsion of Jewish population from their homeland. With the decline in power of the ruling Seleucid dynasty of Syria in the second century B.C., the Maccabeans began to assert greater political independence for the Jewish people. Upon the death of Alexander Jannaeus in 76 B.C., his widow Salome Alexandra took over the reigns of power. However, because a woman could not hold the office of high priest, this title was given to her son by Jannaeus, Yehohanan Hyrcanus II. When Salome died in 67 B.C., a civil war broke out between Hyrcanus and his brother Aristobulus II that lasted four years, until the Roman general Pompey intervened. Pompey then conquered Jerusalem but left the powers of Yehohanan Hyrcanus as high Priest intact. From this time onward, the Romans took an active hand in the political affairs of Judea. One of John Hyrcanus chief advisors was Antipater the Idumean who saw that his own son Herod was eventually installed on the throne after the death of Hyrcanus in 40 B.C. Origin: Israel Circa: 1 st Century AD to 3 rd Century AD Dimensions: 7.50" (19.1cm) high x 8.2" (20.8cm) wide Collection: Biblical Style: Roman Period Medium: Lead   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1070 AD to 712 AD Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high Collection: Egyptian Style: Third Intermediate Period Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1070 AD to 712 AD Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high Collection: Egyptian Style: Third Intermediate Period Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities. While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious beliefs.   « Less

Egyptian Wooden Mummy Bed - X.0455 Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 332 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Late Kingdom Medium: Painted Wood

Egyptian Wooden Mummy Bed - X.0455 Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 332 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Late Kingdom Medium: Painted Wood   « Less

Throughout the Bronze Age, Egyptian culture strongly influenced the peoples of ancient Palestine, including the Philistines. Among the many customs borrowed from Egypt was  More »

Throughout the Bronze Age, Egyptian culture strongly influenced the peoples of ancient Palestine, including the Philistines. Among the many customs borrowed from Egypt was the tradition of burying deceased individuals of high rank in coffins modeled after the human form. Most probably, those interred in this fashion were Philistine aristocrats who emulated Egyptian ways, though it is possible that they might have been provincial officials of the Egyptian kingdom. This rare and magnificent terracotta mask, a fragment of a full-sized casket, depicts the face of man who stares back at us from beyond the grave. Although his features reveal the influence of Egyptian mummy cases, the high headdress suggests that this coffin is of Philistine origin. The modeling and painting are lively and quick, a local variation of the more refined Egyptian style. This bold expressionism gives the fragment a vital presence. Though the portrait is hardly an accurate one, it conveys the energy of a real human life, an energy still felt thousand of years later. - (X.0382)   « Less

Egyptian Wooden Funerary Mask - EM.003 Origin: Egypt Circa: 600 BC to 300 BC Dimensions: 7.25" (18.4cm) high Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Late Dynastic Period

Egyptian Wooden Funerary Mask - EM.003 Origin: Egypt Circa: 600 BC to 300 BC Dimensions: 7.25" (18.4cm) high Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Late Dynastic Period   « Less

Bronze Sculpture of Anubis - FF.071 Origin: Egypt Circa: 600 BC to 500 BC Dimensions: 5.10" (13.0cm) high Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: late Kingdom Medium:  More »

Bronze Sculpture of Anubis - FF.071 Origin: Egypt Circa: 600 BC to 500 BC Dimensions: 5.10" (13.0cm) high Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: late Kingdom Medium: Bronze   « Less

Although the scarab amulet was a uniquely Egyptian innovation, it soon became assimilated into many other cultures that were in contact with the Ancient Egyptians. Foremost  More »

Although the scarab amulet was a uniquely Egyptian innovation, it soon became assimilated into many other cultures that were in contact with the Ancient Egyptians. Foremost among them were the neighboring Phoenicians who inhabited the lands of modern Lebanon as well as widespread territories throughout the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians are believed to have been escendants of the ancient Canaanites, as both these cultures shared many of the same religious beliefs and social customs. The earliest excavated Phoenician scarabs date from the 8th century B.C. They were primarily used as intaglio seals and feature a broad range of scenes and styles including Egyptian motifs, native Phoenician and Syrian subjects, and subject matters that were derived from Greek art. A remarkable series of rich green jasper scarabs such as this one were produced in Phoenicia throughout the Persian Period, roughly from the late 6th to the middle of the 4th century B.C. Most of these green jasper scarabs have been unearthed in cemeteries of the Punic west, including Carthage as well as Sardinia and Ibiza. However, there are many indications that they originally came from the eastern homeland. Origin: Lebanon Circa: 6 th Century BC to 4 th Century BC Dimensions: 1.375" (3.5cm) high x 1" (2.5cm) wide Collection: Biblical Style: Phoenician Medium: Green Jasper   « Less