The Antiquities Authority confirmed that the figurine represented Hathor, an Egyptian goddess associated with fertility, strength, protection and wisdom.
According to Amir Golani, an expert on the Bronze Age at the authority: “The Canaanites used to adopt ritual and religious customs of the Egyptians, who ruled our region at the time. Just like homes today, where you install a mezuzah or hang a picture of a saint on the wall, then, they used to place ritual figurines in a central place in the house, for good luck and protection from bad things.”
The statuette was made of clay that was embedded into a stone pattern, a process allowing people to quickly produce numerous such figurines, he explained.
“It can be recognized that this is Ella Hathor by her hairstyle, which simulates the horns of a bull, and by the prominent eyes and ears that were designed for her,” said Golani.
Marner’s discovery coincides with the launch of the Antiquities Authority’s “Return Them With a Click” campaign to encourage Israelis with artifacts in their homes to turn them over to the state.
There is a legal obligation to report to the Antiquities Authority about any find of antiquities.