What Were They Used For? What Did They Do with Them?

Little figurines are ubiquitous in the ancient Near East, including in ancient Israel. Almost all of them are made of clay. A few are made of plaster and painted—like the one pictured here. Many more plaster figurines probably existed, but they have not been preserved. Plaster crumbles; clay is well-nigh indestructible, even if only small pieces endure for ages.