Idol, "Kusura" type, Early Bronze Age II, ca. 3500 - 3000 BC · Anatolia (Asia Minor, Turkey) · ID: 3053751
Peter Brandes, Colombes, France
Description
marble, overall earthen deposits and encrustation on the surface, base
The name of this type of idol derives from the excavation site of Kusura in present-day Turkey, where these idols were frequently found in Layer II. Today, the distribution of these highly stylized idols is known to extend from the western coast of Asia Minor far into the inland regions.
The stylized forms are thought to represent a crouching female that is generally identified as the “mother goddess” and associated with fertility. Although the precise function of these idols is unclear, their presence in sanctuaries and tombs suggests that they were used as votive offerings or grave gifts. Figures of the Kusura type distinguish themselves through their disc-shaped heads and trapezoidal or pouch-shaped bodies.
Publications
Brandes, Peter, Den Genfundne Tid, 2019, p. 34
Notices
This object is subject to the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).