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An 11 - twelvemonth - old male child went for a desert rise with his parent and identify a child - protecting statuette date stamp to the scriptural era , about 2,500 years ago .
The small-scale frame had a prominent nose , a scarf joint covering her head and cut through blazonry fold under her bare breast . The figurine , which quantify about 3 inches ( 7 centimeters ) tall and ( 6 atomic number 96 ) astray , was likely range from a mildew , grant to the Facebook post . During the fifth and sixth centuries B.C. , such figurines were commonly used as right fate amulets , for protect minor or promoting fertility rate , the IAA says .
The pottery figurine is carved in the shape of a scarf-wearing woman with her arms folded beneath her uncovered breasts.
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After Ben - David retrieve the artifact , his female parent Miriam Ben - David , a professional tour template , get through IAA archeologist Oren Shmueli and coiffe to extradite the figurine to the IAA ’s National Treasures Department , for research and preservation .
Shmueli and Debora Ben - Ami , conservator of the Iron Age and Persian period for the IAA , will further enquire the figurine to well understand how theatrical of human figures were incorporated into superstitious rituals during biblical times , Shmueli tell .
Zvi Ben-David found the figurine while visiting the Negev Desert with his family.
Throughout Israel ’s past , figurine of mere - breasted women were commonly set up in people ’s menage , " like the hamsa symbolization today " — a in-between Eastern talisman forge like a hand with an open eye in the palm , displayed or wear down to guard off bad luck and protect against the malevolent eye , allot to the Facebook post . Thousands of years ago , look-alike of women with uncovered breasts carry alike import , assure " auspices , good luck and successfulness , " Shmueli said .
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Other types of talisman in the ancient world had more rare uses , such as hamper attacks fromevil blood - drinking spirits . But during ancientness , when medical knowledge and understanding ofhygienewas limited , it ’s no marvel that people frequently turned to amulet as an extra protective encouragement for continued sound health and for assistance overcoming the dangers and challenges of everyday life .
" In the absence of advanced medicine , amulets provided Leslie Townes Hope and an important way of appeal for aid , " Shmueli said .
primitively published on Live Science .
