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Erich Lessing

Sculptures of women, including these clay figurines from Megiddo dating to the tenth through seventh centuries B.C.E., have been discovered in most major excavations in the Near East. The Megiddo figurines appear to represent musicians cradling their tambourines. The craftsmanship, variety and abundance of these figures attest to a long tradition of depicting the human form—in sculptures not used in worship.