A Roman Bronze Figurine of a Seated Infant from Shivta in the Negev

Adi Erlich, Yotam Asscher, Yotam Tepper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A small Roman bronze figurine of a seated infant was found in Byzantine Shivta in the arid region of the Negev in southern Israel. The figurine was probably part of a sculptural group or part of a vessel or other utensil. This paper studies the iconography of the figurine, and aims to decipher the gap in time between its production in the Roman period and its discovery in a Byzantine context, some two centuries later. We argue that the Roman figurine was readopted in Byzantine Shivta as an amuletic object, and we strive to explain its function as a miniature relic transferred in time, and perhaps also in place.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1–16
JournalPalestine Exploration Quarterly
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

  • Amulet
  • Bronze figurine
  • Byzantine Negev
  • Harpocrates
  • Heirloom
  • Nabateans
  • Roman bronzes
  • Shivta

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Archaeology
  • History
  • Visual Arts and Performing Arts
  • Religious studies
  • Archaeology

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