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Stone Figurine of Hedgehog
| Collection number | 石002-0177 |
|---|---|
| Provenance | Syria |
| Period | |
| Date | ca. 3000-1000 B.C. |
| Material | Stone |
| Dimension | L. 8.6 cm |
| Comment | The hedgehogs inhabit grassy plain zone and the dry zone of Europe, Africa, Western Asia, Russia, and India. They eat insects and the small animals such as a centipede, a frog, and the snake bait. As they hibernate in winter time, they can also estivate in desert area to avoid the heat and drought. A stone vessel in the shape of hedgehog appeared since Neolithic period, about 8000 years ago at Tell Bouqras, Syria. In the cuneiform text of Old Babylonian period (ca. 3500 BP), a pseudo burial ritual was written. In that ritual, hedgehog is buried in the earth praying the dead can travel to the underworld safely. Hedgehog was linked to evil powers because people believed hedgehog as emissary from the underworld. |
| Classification | stone objects |
| Keyword | Black Pretty Western Asia,Syria,North Stone/mineral Sculpture/Statue,Animal figurine Creature,Tetrapoda,Hedgehog |