Image Details

PHOTOGRAPHS BY T. ROGOVSKI; DRAWING BY O. DOBOVSKY

MIGHTY GODS. Debris from the mid-12th-century B.C.E. destruction of Lachish preserved many artifacts associated with the temple, including two bronze figurines. Uncovered at the entrance to the holy of holies of the Northeast Temple, they likely represent the Canaanite god Baal or Resheph. This god’s female consort was probably venerated here too, as evidenced by a silver pendant (shown here) found nearby. The engraved naked goddess, who holds a lotus flower or papyrus in each hand and wears a hairstyle reminiscent of the Egyptian goddess Hathor, can be Anat or Astarte, both well-known Levantine fertility goddesses.