- Museum number
- 126470
- Description
-
Carved stone eye figurine; eye heavily emphasized.
- Production date
- 3300BC-3000BC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 5.80 centimetres (check)
-
Width: 2.70 centimetres (check)
- Curator's comments
-
Object type also known as "spectacle idols"
-
"Treasures of the World's Cultures: The British Museum after 250 Years" catalogue entry
(ANE11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Eye Idols
North-eastern Syria, about 3500-3300 BC
From Tell Brak
Alabaster
H2.7-5.8 cm
Excavated by M.E.L. Mallowan
ANE 126202, 126470, 126478, 126481, 126488, 126492 (with child)
D Collon, Ancient Near Eastern art (London, The British Museum Press, 1995), p. 47, fig. 26
J E Reade, Mesopotamia (London, The British Museum Press, 1991), p. 25, fig. 25
M E L Mallowan, 'Excavations at Brak and Chagar Bazar, Syria', Iraq, 9 (1947), pp. 1-259
C Trümpler (ed.), Agatha Christie and archaeology (London, The British Museum Press, 2001), pp. 121-36
Tell Brak is the modern name of a large site in north Mesopotamia, which was clearly one of the most important cities in the region during the late prehistoric period. Monumental buildings appear to have been rebuilt over many centuries. It was at one of these, known today as the Eye Temple, that the archaeologist Max Mallowan excavated hundreds of these miniature figurines, with their pronounced eyes. They may represent worshippers, placed as offerings.
The figurines have been grouped into five types. Some have a single pair of eyes, with or without decoration; some have three, four or six eyes; some have small 'child' eye figures carved on their front, and on others the eyes have been drilled through. Examples of figurines with drilled eyes have been found at a number of sites of this period across north Mesopotamia. Recent excavations at Tell Brak have confirmed their date.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2007 14 Sep-2 Dec, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2007 3 Feb-27 May, Taipei, National Palace Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2006 18 Mar-4 Jun, Beijing, Capital Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2005 27 Oct-2006 31 Jan, Haengso Museum, Keimyung University, Daegu, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2005 25 Jul-8 Oct, Busan Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2005 11 Apr-10 Jul, Seoul Arts Centre, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2004 26 Jun-29 Aug, Niigata Bandaijima Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2004 10 Apr-13 Jun, Fukuoka Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2004 17 Jan-28 Mar, Kobe City Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
2003 18 Oct-14 Dec, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
- Acquisition date
- 1939
- Department
- Middle East
- BM/Big number
- 126470
- Registration number
- 1939,0208.89
