Title: Tel Brak Eye Idol

 

Dimensions (cm): 8.2x5.6x1.5

 

Artist: Nadine Varga

 

Editor:  Don LaBarre

 

Region: Middle East

 

Description:

This anthropomorphic figurine is a replica of a Syrian Eye Idol from the Middle Uruk Period (3700-3500BCE). These idols were left as offerings at the site of Tel Brak. This replica is a copy of an original eye idol, held in the collection at the Museum of Art in New York, made to scale (5.3 x 8.9 x 1.9cm); many are smaller and thinner. Air drying clay was rolled into a slab and a needle like clay tool was used to draw and cut out the outline of the idol. The details were then gently carved into the clay while wet.