The Revadim Asherah is a significant artifact representing a third genre of Asherah figurines. Like the inscriptions found at Khirbet el-Qom and Kuntillet Ajrud, it's one of the most pivotal discoveries in the field from the latter half of the 20th century. These findings redirected scholarship to the fact of Asherah's prominence in Canaanite and Hebrew religion.
Depiction
The figure is the Great Mother, portrayed displaying her vulva and feeding twins. Tadmor emphasizes that the figure represents a deity, not a wetnurse. She has features such as long locks that are reminiscent of snakes directed towards the infants she cradles, jewelry adorning her wrists and neck, where hangs a large crescent pendant. Her hands open the yoni, and above is a ridge suggesting pubic hair. Engraved on each of her legs are depictions of tall trees accompanied by horned animals. The trees are tall and sparse, and the caprids have curved horns like ibices.
The crowded symbolism of the Revadim Asherah stands in contrast to stark Judean pillar figurines. Whereas the pillar figures are plain, definitionally emphasizing their face and breasts without detail below, the Revadim prototype is maximalist, filling all possible space with sophisticated polysemy.
Specimens
Following publication in 1986, examples fleshing out the genus were found: Aphek, Tel Harasim, Tel Burna, and Revadim constitute all Revadim-type finds as of 2015. Differences are regional features, as they're dated mutual contemporaries of the latter 13th century. Good sense and openmindedness are a boon when evaluating the figures, as depictions are often flatly "false or vague."
External
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pelegrino/13020564973 CC-licensed high-res photo by Nick Thompson. NB: the caption repeats incorrect information from https://www.imj.org.il/en/collections/198014-0 Israel Museum
See also
Khirbet el-Qom
Tel Dan Stele
Deir Alla Inscription
Pugat
References
Notes
Bibliography
NB: Margalit and Margalith are different scholars.
Via: O. Turfnell pl XLVIIB p 229 Pubic triangle is substituted for the stereotyped tree w flanking ibices: "the tree... symbolized the fertility goddess Asherah."
There are "copious amounts of scholarship on their context and iconography." p. 71 Distrib. across economic classes p. 64
"One cannot always trust excavation reports or catalogues, nor photographs or secondary line-drawings."
