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The Lady of Elche

The Lady of Elche is a limestone bust that was discovered in 1897, at La Alcudia, an archaeological site on a private estate two kilometers south of Elche, Spai...
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The Lady of Elche is a limestone bust that was discovered in 1897, at La Alcudia, an archaeological site on a private estate two kilometers south of Elche, Spain.
It is generally known as an Iberian artifact from the 4th century BCE, although the artisanship suggests strong Hellenistic influences. Some believe the Lady of Elche to have a direct association with Tanit, the goddess of Carthage, who was worshiped by the Semitic Punic-Iberians, others hold that the figure’s identity is a mystery, but it is thought to have both human and divine attributes. It has been interpreted as a high-born Iberian lady who was deified by her descendants.
It is currently exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain in Madrid. I photographed this replica by the Japanese Gardens of Toulouse, a twin city to Elche.
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