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The Lady of Byblos
  • CollectionNear East
  • Inventory numberO.04780
  • Object nameStatuette
  • TitleThe Lady of Byblos
  • CulturePhoenician
  • GeographyPlace of discovery:ByblosHistorical geographical reference > Asia > Levant (Syro-Palestine) > Phoenicia (Syria, Lebanon)
    Place of production (historical):Phoenicia (Syria, Lebanon)Historical geographical reference > Asia > Levant (Syro-Palestine)
  • Date450 BC (uncertain)
  • PeriodPhoenician(Near East and Iran > Iron Age (Near East and Iran))
  • MaterialLimestoneMaterial > Stone
  • DimensionsH x La x P: 17,5 cm, 16 cm, 13 cm
  • OwnerMusées royaux d'art et d'histoire / Koninklijke Musea voor Kunst en Geschiedenis
  • Order photographs
Description
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In Phoenician art, deities are only rarely identified by inscriptions. The inscription of this cult statue from a temple or private chapel, however, leaves no doubt that this is one of the few representations of the 'Lady of Byblos' (Baalat Gubal). The main goddess of this international port city was assimilated to the Egyptian goddesses Hathor and, later, Isis, as is aptly demonstrated by the King Yehawmilk stele in the Louvre. Since the 3rd millennium she was worshipped in Phoenicia and since the 2nd millennium also in Sinai and Egypt, to be identified later with Aphrodite (and Dionè?).