Bactrian? Metal Statuette of Goddess Anahita? Balkh Province?

1965
Anahita was worshiped as the Goddess of the Oxus (Amu Darya) from Achaemenid-Zoroastrian times, anywhere from 1500-600 BCE . Her shrine where licentious rites were performed, was in Balkh, the seat of a major Bactrian satrap. (note; no "h" at the end of satrap) Ancient texts describe the goddess as "wearing a robe made of thirty shining otter skins." Many questions concern this alleged Bronze Age artifact purchased of kabul's sidewalks in the sixties. It is probably a reproduction. Numerous similar pieces of inferior quality were for sale at the time.
Photo: Louis Dupree

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Filename: 65-M-LD-67.2.jpg
Copyright: acku Afghanistan
Image Size: 3258x5503 / 4.7MB; 1967 Afghanistan Balkh Metal Statuette of Goddess Anahita Oxus River Amu Darya Achaemenid-Zoroastrian Shrine Robe Object Front View Bronze Age Ancient Louis Dupree Slide LD 1967 01946
Contained in galleries: NATIONAL MUSEUM I - BCE (Before Common Era)

1965<br />
Anahita was worshiped as the Goddess of the Oxus (Amu Darya) from Achaemenid-Zoroastrian times, anywhere from 1500-600 BCE . Her shrine where licentious rites were performed, was in Balkh, the seat of a major Bactrian satrap. (note; no "h" at the end of satrap) Ancient texts describe the goddess as "wearing a robe made of thirty shining otter skins." Many questions concern this alleged Bronze Age artifact purchased of kabul's sidewalks in the sixties. It is probably a reproduction. Numerous similar pieces of inferior quality were for sale at the time. <br />
Photo: Louis Dupree