Syro-Hittite Ceramic Fertility Goddess | Iron Age 1200–800 BC

This striking terracotta figurine represents a fertility goddess from the Syro-Hittite culture, dating to the Iron Age, between 1200 and 800 BC. Crafted in a stylized, abstract form with exaggerated hips and pierced facial features, this figure emphasizes fertility and femininity. The detailed head, adorned with multiple punctures and ridges, may symbolize divine traits or ritual adornments.

These figurines were household items with deep spiritual significance. Often placed in homes or buried beneath doorposts, they served as protective charms intended to bless the household—particularly to ensure the fertility and well-being of the women within.

SIZE: H. 17.5 cm

CONDITION: Fine condition

Iron Age (circa 1200–800 BC)

This figurine dates to the Iron Age, a transformative period in the ancient Near East marked by the widespread use of iron tools and weapons, the collapse of major Bronze Age empires, and the rise of smaller regional powers. During this time, the Syro-Hittite city-states flourished in what is now southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, emerging from the remnants of the Hittite Empire.

The Iron Age in this region was a time of cultural fusion, where Hittite, Hurrian, Aramean, and Mesopotamian influences blended. Religious life was rich with household worship, ancestor veneration, and fertility cults, often centered around figurines like this one. These societies placed strong emphasis on family, continuity, and protection of the home—reflected in the domestic use of fertility idols buried near doorways or placed in living spaces.

This figurine is an example of how everyday objects held deep symbolic and ritual meaning, giving us a glimpse into the intimate spiritual world of ancient Iron Age households.

Terracotta (Baked Clay)

This Syro-Hittite fertility goddess figurine is made from terracotta—a type of earthenware created by shaping natural clay and firing it at relatively low temperatures in a kiln. Terracotta was one of the most accessible and widely used materials in the ancient world due to its abundance, versatility, and ease of shaping.

Once fired, the clay hardens into a durable yet porous material, ideal for both practical and ritual objects. In this case, the clay was hand-molded into a stylized human form, then carefully incised and pierced to create facial features, adornments, and anatomical emphasis. The earthy tone of the material, seen in this example, is typical of clays found throughout the Syro-Hittite region.

Terracotta’s simplicity made it ideal for domestic items such as storage vessels, cooking pots, and religious figurines. For fertility figures like this, the material also held symbolic meaning—earth shaping earth—evoking themes of birth, life, and regeneration. This connection between the clay and the earth likely enhanced the figurine’s spiritual role in invoking fertility and protecting the household.

The Private Collection of the late M. Baidun. 1970’s