An Iron Age Hermaphrodite Centaur from Tel Beer Sheba, Israel

Abstract

A unique clay figurine, now broken, was found in the excavations at Tel Beer Sheba in the Negev, one of a large corpus of about 350 Iron Age figurines from this site. It was found in a courtyard of a Level II building, dated to the late eighth century B.C. Though the locus is not completely secure, the Iron Age date is clear according to typology (the ware, whitewash, and general form are all typical of Iran Age II Judah). The figurine combines a horse's body with an anthropomorphic head, which is similar to heads of Judaean pillar figurines (but smaller). Two unique features, not found in Judaean figurines, were added: triangular ears and male genitals. Following discussion of various ancient monsters, we identify this figurine as a centaur, which finds the closest parallels in Cypriote hermaphrodite centaur figurines. There is other evidence for connections between Judah and Cyprus during this period. We assume that the figurine is a result of such a connection, perhaps indirectly through a Philistine city. Centaurs are unknown so far from Iron Age Judah, and this figurine remains a rare exception; hence, it cannot inform us much about Judaean religious beliefs.