Gaza Strip farmer digs up 4,500-year-old sculpture of ancient goddess of war – NBC News
A farmer was plowing his seed into the earth when he discovered a 4,500-year-old sculpture of an ancient goddess of war. Anat is the goddess of love, beauty, and war in Canaanite mythology. The statue was located east of Khan Yunis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.
The sculpture is the complete head of Anat with a Snake crown used to represent strength and invisibility. Historians believe that the goddess was the inspiration for Athena, the Greek Goddess of War, often portrayed with snakes.
The statue measures 6.7 inches tall and is made of limestone, and dates back to 2,500 B.C, making it virtually priceless. We do not know if Nidal, the farmer, will be compensated for his find or just given a ribbon and a gift card for The Olive Garden.
Read more on this story at the following additional news sources:
- Gaza Strip farmer digs up 4,500-year-old sculpture of ancient goddess of war NBC News
- Palestinian farmer finds 4,500-year-old goddess statue while working his land CNN
- Farmer finds 4,500-year-old statuette of ancient goddess “by chance” while working his land in Gaza CBS News
- Gaza Strip Farmer Digs Up 4,500-Year-Old Statue of Canaanite Goddess of War The Daily Beast
- Farmer finds 4,500-year-old goddess of love and war statue: ‘We found it by chance’ USA TODAY