Just in:
US reiterates concern over Kejriwal arrest, Cong accounts // Arvind Kejriwal Gets International Heft Against The Deshi Vishwaguru // Andertoons by Mark Anderson for Thu, 28 Mar 2024 // Experts come together to support updating the city’s nature conservation masterplan // Konica Minolta is named ASEAN 2023 Market Leader in Colour Light and Mid Digital Production Printers // AIA Hong Kong Wins More Than 20 Accolades at MPF Ratings MPF Awards, BENCHMARK MPF of The Year Awards and Bloomberg Businessweek Top Fund Awards // In Lok Sabha Polls In Punjab, AAP Is Advantageously Placed As Against Its Three Rivals // AI Boost for Galaxy Devices: Samsung Expands One UI 6.1 Update // Sharpening the Focus: Sharjah Health Department Refines Evaluation Criteria for “Healthy Schools Programme” // Infineon and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering jointly develop ship electrification technology // Emirates Post Speeds Up Deliveries for GCC with Special Day // Experience Ultimate Shopping Freedom at 4.4 Shopee Spree: Don’t Worry, Shop Shopee! // Party Nominees Refusing To Contest: Major Perception Threat For BJP // Arvind Kejriwal Was Used By BJP In 2011 Movement To Take On The Congress // German Job Market Resilience Bodes Well for Economic Recovery // Superland Announced Annual Results for 2023, 2023 Net Profit Increased approximately 39.5% to approximately HK$22.2 million as Compared to the 2022 Adjusted One // Renewables Surge Sets Record, But Global Equity Lags // Sunshine’s Debut Features Leave Tech World Scratching Its Head // Hullabaloo About Electoral Bonds May End Up As A Whimper Pre And Post Poll // Court Sides with Coinbase on Wallet Service, But Staking Program Remains in Limbo //
HomeWorldVery old, charming – er – thing goes on display in Athens

Very old, charming – er – thing goes on display in Athens

By Karolina Tagaris
| ATHENS

ADVERTISEMENT

ATHENS A bird-like statuette dating back 7,000 years has mystified archaeologists in Greece who still do not know exactly what it is, or where it came from.

The “7,000-year-old enigma,” as it has been dubbed by the National Archaeological Museum, has been put on display until March 26 after being brought from the museum’s storerooms.

It is the latest item to be presented under the title “The Unseen Museum” – a reference to the roughly 200,000 antiquities from statues to gold jewelry and every-day objects in store and not on daily display.

Carved out of granite, the 36 cm (14 inches) “enigma” statuette of the late Neolithic era has a pointed nose and long neck leading to a markedly round belly, flat back and cylindrical stumpy legs.

“It could depict a human-like figure with a bird-like face, or a bird-like entity which has nothing to do with man but with the ideology and symbolism of the Neolithic society,” Katya Manteli, an archaeologist with the museum, told Reuters.

Experts also cannot be sure of its provenance, as it belongs to a personal collection. They assume only that it is from the northern Greek regions of Thessaly or Macedonia.

Unlike most Neolithic figurines made of soft stone, it is carved out of hard rock even though metal tools were not available at the time.

And while it is too short for a life-size depiction of the human figure, it is bigger than most Neolithic statues, which are rarely found over 35 cm tall.

“Regarding technique and size, it is among the rare and unique works of the Neolithic period in Greece,” Manteli said.

More puzzling still is the lack of clear indication of sex. Is it due to technical sculpting limitations? Or did the sculptor intend to create an asexual figure. Archaeologists believe the fact that the statuette is polished suggests the figure is in its final form, although they maintain that if the sculptor had the appropriate tools it would have taken a more specific form.

“Yes, it could be a pregnant figure but there are no breasts, used in Neolithic times to depict the female body. On the other hand it lacks male organs so it is presented as an asexual figure,” Manteli said.

“There are enigmatic aspects to it which make it charming.”

(Additional reporting by Deborah Kyvrikosaios; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

(via WSJ)

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT
Just in:
US reiterates concern over Kejriwal arrest, Cong accounts // Sharpening the Focus: Sharjah Health Department Refines Evaluation Criteria for “Healthy Schools Programme” // Universal Language for Healthcare: General Authority Embraces Global Coding System // German Job Market Resilience Bodes Well for Economic Recovery // Lisboeta Macau’s world first LINE FRIENDS PRESENTS CASA DE AMIGO and BROWN & FRIENDS CAFE & BISTRO has officially opened // Sunshine’s Debut Features Leave Tech World Scratching Its Head // Arvind Kejriwal Was Used By BJP In 2011 Movement To Take On The Congress // Superland Announced Annual Results for 2023, 2023 Net Profit Increased approximately 39.5% to approximately HK$22.2 million as Compared to the 2022 Adjusted One // Ajman Celebrates Conclusion of Ramadan Activities with Grand Ceremony // Hullabaloo About Electoral Bonds May End Up As A Whimper Pre And Post Poll // Konica Minolta is named ASEAN 2023 Market Leader in Colour Light and Mid Digital Production Printers // Arvind Kejriwal Gets International Heft Against The Deshi Vishwaguru // Emirates Post Speeds Up Deliveries for GCC with Special Day // Experience Ultimate Shopping Freedom at 4.4 Shopee Spree: Don’t Worry, Shop Shopee! // Court Sides with Coinbase on Wallet Service, But Staking Program Remains in Limbo // Party Nominees Refusing To Contest: Major Perception Threat For BJP // Emirati Aid Reaches Ukraine as Food Shortages Bite // Samsung Partners National Heritage Board to Bring a Slice of Singapore’s Cultural Heritage to Samsung The Frame TV // AIA Hong Kong Wins More Than 20 Accolades at MPF Ratings MPF Awards, BENCHMARK MPF of The Year Awards and Bloomberg Businessweek Top Fund Awards // U.S. Compliance Takes Center Stage at OKX Following Industry Jitters //