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Lachish ewer

The Lachish ewer is an ancient jug discovered at Tell el-Duweir dating from the late 13th century BC,[2] identified as the site of the ancient city of Lachish, one of the most important cities in the Kingdom of Judah.[clarification needed]

"The dedicatory inscription on the Lachish ewer [shows] the word Elat positioned immediately over the tree, indicating the... tree as a representation of the goddess Elat."[1]

Interpretation and significance

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The Lachish ewer shows iconicity[clarification needed] in its simple and graphic design, characterized by the effervescent[clarification needed] depiction of gazelles mid-leap.[according to whom?] The common goats flanking a tree motif is known from very early examples, such as Babylonian Akkadian.[according to whom?][clarification needed] During this era[which?] they symbolize the goddess Asherah.[3][clarification needed]

The jug is considered as important as pithos A from Kuntillet Ajrud and the Ta'anakh cult stand.[4] It is one of the most common points of reference to demonstrate the typical characteristics of art of its type and era,[clarification needed] its attention-grabbing aspect being an unmistakably menorah-like tree as the object of focus and a manifestation of the goddess.[5] The ewer and its cousin, a goblet from the same city, show how the tree and pubic triangle can be synonymous or interchangeable.[6][7]

An excellent parallel[according to whom?] called the Burna krater was publicized in 2022.[8]

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    Lachish ewer
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    Tomb deposits from Gezer, including drawing of Menorah-like shape
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    Tell Jemmeh, potters' trade marks including Menorah-lookalike, by Flinders Petrie
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    Gezer, RAS Macalister (1912), "The Excavation of Gezer", seal impression with horned animal and tree
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    Macalister (1912), the "palm and panelled zigzag" pattern on Gezer pottery (Fig. 346, p. 191)
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    Rock art from Mount Karkom in the Negev: menorah-like incised drawing
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    Petroglyphs from Mount Mihya in the Negev (Lipa Gal Lookout near Avdat) depicting horned animals, probably ibex

See also

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Bibliography

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  • Hestrin, Ruth (1987). "The Lachish Ewer and the 'Asherah". Israel Exploration Journal. 37 (4). Israel Exploration Society: 212–223. ISSN 0021-2059. JSTOR 27926074. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  • Locatell, Christian; McKinny, Chris; Shai, Itzhaq (2022-09-30). "Tree of Life Motif, Late Bronze Canaanite Cult, and a Recently Discovered Krater from Tel Burna". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 142 (3). doi:10.7817/jaos.142.3.2022.ar024. ISSN 2169-2289.
  • Winter, Urs (1983). Frau und Göttin (in German). Freiburg, Schweiz Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. ISBN 3-525-53673-9.
  • Steiner, Richard C. (2016). "The Lachish Ewer: An Offering and a Tribute". Eretz-Israel: Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies. Joseph Naveh Volume. 32: 103*–112*. hdl:20.500.12202/7785. ISSN 0071-108X. JSTOR 26732502.

References

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  1. ^ Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022, p. 580.
  2. ^ Hestrin 1987, p. 212.
  3. ^ Winter 1983.
  4. ^ Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022, p. 576.
  5. ^ Sommer, Benjamin D. (2011). The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel. Cambridge University Press. pp. 44–49. ISBN 978-1107422261.
  6. ^ Hestrin 1987, p. 215.
  7. ^ Ziffer, Irit (2010). "Western Asiatic Tree-Goddesses". Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant. 20. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press: 411–430. doi:10.1553/AEundL20s411. ISSN 1015-5104. JSTOR 23789949. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  8. ^ Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022.
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