Lachish ewer

The Lachish ewer is an ancient jug discovered at Tell el-Duweir dating from the late 13th century BC^[2], identified as the site of the ancient city of Lachish, one of the most important cities in the Kingdom of Judah.^{[clarification needed]}

"The dedicatory inscription on the Lachish ewer [shows] the word Elat positioned immediately over the tree, indicating the... tree as a representation of the goddess Elat."^[1]

Interpretation and significance

The Lachish ewer shows iconicity^{[clarification needed]} in its simple and graphic design, characterized by the effervescent^{[clarification needed]} depiction of gazelles mid-leap.^{[according to whom?]} The common goats flanking a tree motif is known from very early examples, such as Babylonian Akkadian.^{[according to whom?][clarification needed]} During this era^[which?] they symbolize the goddess Asherah.^{[3][clarification needed]}

The jug is considered as important as pithos A from Kuntillet Ajrud and the Ta'anakh cult stand.^[4] It is one of the most common points of reference to demonstrate the typical characteristics of art of its type and era,^{[clarification needed]} its attention-grabbing aspect being an unmistakably menorah-like tree as the object of focus and a manifestation of the goddess.^[5] The ewer and its cousin, a goblet from the same city, show how the tree and pubic triangle can be synonymous or interchangeable.^[6][7]

An excellent parallel^{[according to whom?]} called the Burna krater was publicized in 2022.^[8]

•  
  Lachish ewer
•  
  Tomb deposits from Gezer, including drawing of Menorah-like shape
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  Tell Jemmeh, potters' trade marks including Menorah-lookalike, by Flinders Petrie
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  Gezer, RAS Macalister (1912), "The Excavation of Gezer", seal impression with horned animal and tree
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  Macalister (1912), the "palm and panelled zigzag" pattern on Gezer pottery (Fig. 346, p. 191)
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  Rock art from Mount Karkom in the Negev: menorah-like incised drawing
•  
  Petroglyphs from Mount Mihya in the Negev (Lipa Gal Lookout near Avdat) depicting horned animals, probably ibex

See also

• Lachish
• Lachish letters
• Lachish reliefs
• LMLK seal
• Kuntillet Ajrud inscriptions
• Ta'anach cult stand

Bibliography

• Hestrin, Ruth (1987). "The Lachish Ewer and the 'Asherah". Israel Exploration Journal. 37 (4). Israel Exploration Society: 212–223. ISSN 0021-2059. JSTOR 27926074. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
• Locatell, Christian; McKinny, Chris; Shai, Itzhaq (2022-09-30). "Tree of Life Motif, Late Bronze Canaanite Cult, and a Recently Discovered Krater from Tel Burna". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 142 (3). doi:10.7817/jaos.142.3.2022.ar024. ISSN 2169-2289.
• Winter, Urs (1983). Frau und Göttin (in German). Freiburg, Schweiz Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. ISBN 3-525-53673-9.
• Steiner, Richard C. (2016). "The Lachish Ewer: An Offering and a Tribute". Eretz-Israel: Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies. Joseph Naveh Volume. 32: 103*–112*. hdl:20.500.12202/7785. ISSN 0071-108X. JSTOR 26732502.

References

1. Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022, p. 580.
2. Hestrin 1987, p. 212.
3. Winter 1983.
4. Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022, p. 576.
5. Sommer, Benjamin D. (2011). The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel. Cambridge University Press. pp. 44–49. ISBN 978-1107422261.
6. Hestrin 1987, p. 215.
7. Ziffer, Irit (2010). "WESTERN ASIATIC TREE-GODDESSES". Ägypten und Levante / Egypt and the Levant. 20. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press: 411–430. ISSN 1015-5104. JSTOR 23789949. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
8. Locatell, McKinny & Shai 2022.

External links

•   Media related to Elat jug of Lachish at Wikimedia Commons