Palestinian Farmer Digs Up 4,500-Year-Old Goddess Sculpture

[Judi Lynn]

While working his land, Nidal Abu Eid uncovered a statue of Canaanite deity Anat

Antonia Mufarech
Reporter

May 9, 2022



The newly-discovered limestone statuette is over 4,500 years old. Majdi Fathi / NurPhoto via Getty Images


Nidal Abu Eid was cultivating his land in the Gaza Strip’s Khan Younis when he came across a sculpture of a head wearing a snake tiara.

“It was muddy but when I washed it with water, I realized that it is a precious thing,” he told The New Arab. “At first, I hoped to sell it to someone to make some money, but an archaeologist told me that it was of great archaeological value.”

The Canaanites were pagans who once lived along an important trade route in an area now known as the Gaza Strip. A key location when it came to trade between countries and empires in ancient times, the region is rife with archaeological sites, some connected to the royal families of ancient civilizations.

Anat, also known as Anath, was one of the most popular Canaanite goddesses. She was known for her violent temperament and role in the myth of Baal, in which she helped rescue him from the underworld. The unearthed limestone sculpture depicts Anat wearing a serpent crown, which was worn by gods as a sign of strength and resilience.

More:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/palestinian-farmer-digs-up-4500-year-old-goddess-sculpture-180980055/