Iberian Peninsula to the indus

Bibliography:
Peltenburg 1977; 
Peltenburg 1985, p. 281, frontispiece 
pl. 45.1, fig. 81; Vagnetti 1991, pp. 
144–147, fig. 10; Knapp & Meskell, 
1997, pp. 194–195, fig. 5; Bolger 
2003, fig. 4,4; Karageorghis (J.), 
Karageorghis (V.) 2006, p. 74, fig. 1
.
The “Lemba Lady” was found in situ 
in a Middle Chalcolithic building at 
the settlement of Lemba –Lakkous in 
the Paphos district. At 36 cm in height, 
it is the largest Chalcolithic figurine 
found on Cyprus as yet. It has a fiddle-
shaped form with arms outstretched 
in cruciform fashion. The limestone 
sculpture is incised and modelled to 
emphasise the breasts, hips and pubic 
area. The belly is slightly swollen, 
possibly indicating pregnancy. These 
female features are in contrast with the 
figure’s roughly phallic-shaped neck 
and head, a characteristic that can be 
traced back to the Neolithic period. 
This sexual ambiguity and dualism 
is characteristic of the Chalcolithic 
period and can also be seen on 
picrolite anthropomorphic figurines.
The Lemba figurine was found lying 
between large vessels in a building, 
which probably had a ritual and 
communal character. Given the 
unusual nature of the context in 
which it was found, as well as the 
figure’s uniqueness in size and form, 
the “Lemba Lady” is to date the only 
candidate for the representation of a 
deity in pre-Bronze Age Cyprus.
A.E.

---

139
138
29
cruciforM figure
Cyprus, Salamiou-
Anephani
Chalcolithic period
(IV millennium BC)
Picrolite, H. 10.5 cm
Department of Antiquities Cyprus, 
Nicosia, inv. 1059/XI-3/6
Bibliography:
Karageorghis 1960, 
pp. 244-245, fig. 2; Buchholz,
Karageorghis 1973, pp. 160, 466. 
no. 1700; Campo 1994, p. 189; 
Karageorghis 2012, p. 41, no. 15.
This picrolite figurine belongs to the 
double anthropomorphic figurine 
category. Instead of two arms there 
is a second smaller figurine (its lower 
body has been partly reconstructed), 
arranged horizontally at the level of 
the chest of the main figure. The two 
faces bear similar facial features. As 
is the case with many of the double 
picrolite figurines, the vertical, larger 
figure has breasts. Interpretations of 
this imagery vary, including that it is an 
expression of maternity and continuity 
(e.g. mother and daughter) (Goring 
2006, 
p. 
75) or an attempt to present 
sexual dualities by blending the sexual 
characteristics of males and females 
(Knapp 2013, 
p. 
241).
A.E.
30
cruciforM figure
Cyprus, Paphos district
No provenance
Chalcolithic period
(IV millennium BC)
Picrolite, H. 9.5 cm
Department of Antiquities Cyprus, 
Nicosia, inv. W 290
Bibliography:
Buchholz, Karageorghis 
1973, pp. 160, 466, cat. 1701; Vagnetti 
1974, p. 30, pl. V.2; Vagnetti 1991, pp. 
147, 149, fig. 13; Flourentzos 1990, p. 
42, no. 31; Karageorghis 2012, p. 41, 
no. 14.
This picrolite cruciform figurine is 
shown in the typical birthing position 
of its type, with its arms outstretched 
and its legs sharply drawn up at the 
knees. It has a long neck and a flat, 
wedge-shaped head. Its brow-line 
and long nose are indicated with 
incisions and its eyes are irregular and 
bulbous. The hair is also represented 
with incisions. The unusual feature 
on this figurine are the two diagonal 
latticed bands that adorn the arms 
and the chest on the figure’s front and 
back surface. An almost identical, but 
provenanced example, comes from a 
tomb at the Chalcolithic necropolis of 
Souskiou-Vathyrkakas (Goring 2006, 
no. SVP 58/1, pp. 68–69, 81, pl. 17:3), 
where it was found beneath the scull 
of a sub-adult (Peltenburg 2006, p. 20).
A.E.
31
cruciforM figure
Cyprus, Kissonerga-Mosphilia
Chalcolithic period
(IV millennium BC)
Picrolite, H. 7 cm
Department of Antiquities Cyprus, 
Nicosia, inv. KM 1052