Double-Faced Female Figure of Astarte[?]

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Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
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published on 18 February 2019
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Double-Faced Female Figure of Astarte[?] Download Full Size Image

This limestone head probably represents the goddess Astarte. Some of the ivory inlays still remain within the eye sockets while holes on the collar were probably for inlay decorations. Four such heads were discovered together in 1968 CE and a fifth one was found in 2011 CE. They have holes on the top and bottom and were probably set as a balustrade in the window of an Ammonite temple, to give a chance to devotees praying outside to see one face, while priests in the holy interior could see the other face. Iron Age II mid-8th century BCE. From Amman Citadel, Jordan. (The Jordan Museum, Amman, Jordan).

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2019, February 18). Double-Faced Female Figure of Astarte[?]. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10079/double-faced-female-figure-of-astarte/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Double-Faced Female Figure of Astarte[?]." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 18, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10079/double-faced-female-figure-of-astarte/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Double-Faced Female Figure of Astarte[?]." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 18 Feb 2019. Web. 31 Dec 2025.

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