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]}

Interpretation and significance

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]

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

Bibliography

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

^ Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022, p. 580.
^ Hestrin 1987, p. 212.
^ Winter 1983.
^ Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022, p. 576.
^ Sommer, Benjamin D. (2011). The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel. Cambridge University Press. pp. 44–49. ISBN 978-1107422261.
^ Hestrin 1987, p. 215.
^ 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.
^ Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022.