Set of seven figurines

At the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE, cities and kingdoms in the Levant developed in between the great powers of Egypt, Anatolia and Mesopotamia. Among these cities, Byblos, in present-day Lebanon, was a major trading centre, and was particularly important during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. The site was also famous for its temple to Baalat Gebal, the city’s protecting goddess. Many bronze statuettes have been found in Byblos. Some bear details or are partially gilded; others, like the ones here, are simpler. The male figurines are distinguished by the presence of a beard, a headdress or a prominent nose. The figures depicted are often shown walking, and holding a weapon that has since disappeared. The female figures, fewer in number, have their arms at their sides, their feet in alignment. These objects were buried in the ground or in the brickwork of temples and almost certainly represent religious devotion.