16 nov 08   Eye idol, 3500–3100 B.C.; middle–late Uruk period
Excavated at Tell Brak, northeastern Syria Alabaster (gypsum);
H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) Joint Expedition of the British Museum and
the British School of Archaeology in Iraq Gift of The Colt
Archaeological Institute Inc., 1988 (1988.323.8) This type of
figurine, made of stone and having incised eyes, has been
excavated at Tell Brak, where thousands were found in a building
now called the Eye Temple. Many are incised with multiple sets
of eyes, others with jewelry, and still others with
representations of “children”—smaller eyes and body carved on
the body of the larger idol. The idols are thought to be
offerings—wide eyes demonstrate attentiveness to the gods in
much Mesopotamian art.  Metropolitan Museum of Art, Nueva York
Para más información:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/intro/atr/03sm.htm   Mesopotamia
arcaica (presumeria)   Halaf (5500-4500 B.C. North Mesopotamia-
Syria)    1. Halaf period pottery plate from Arpachiyah, upper
Mesopotamia. Ca. 500