Small terracotta plaques of this class are conventionally designated as ‘goddess in a structure’. Numerous parallels, with highly standardised iconographies of a richly jewelled goddess, have been extensively excavated from temples of the early Old Babylonian Dynasty, indicating their close association with religious purposes. Such plaques might have been used as votive offerings. The deity might be associated with the goddess Ishtar, who is also known as Inanna in the previous Sumerian culture. Ishtar was one of the most important female deities in Mesopotamia through the second millennium BC. She has been worshipped as the goddess of warfare, justice, love and fertility. Images and religious implications of Ishtar can be found across the ancient Mediterranean worlds, she is also identified with Phoenician Astarte and Greek Aphrodite.
To discover more about the Old Babylonian culture, please visit our relevant post: Civilisations of the Ancient Near East.
