In the ruins of Shivta, an ancient and small Byzantine village located in the arid Negev Desert, researchers discovered a unique bronze figurine depicting a seated child. This seemingly ordinary find tells a fascinating story spanning centuries and reveals the cultural exchange between the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Shivta, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, flourished during the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods. Archaeological excavations at the site have uncovered domestic structures, churches, streets, and advanced agricultural systems, reflecting a prosperous community. However, the discovery of this bronze figurine, dated to the 2nd or 3rd century CE, adds an intriguing dimension to our understanding of Shivta as a crossroads of cultures and eras.

The discovery was made in 2016 in the remains of a house near the southern church, an area primarily associated with the Byzantine era. Curiously, no significant structures or ceramics from the Roman period have been found within the settlement, raising questions about how this object arrived there.

Roman figurine byzantine Negev
Map of Negev sites.The ruins of the Byzantine village of Shivta (a World Heritage Site since 2005) are situated in the Negev Highlands in an arid region c. 40  km southwest of Beersheba. Credit: A. Erlich et al.

The statue, only 3.2 centimeters tall, depicts a naked child with arms outstretched, as if asking to be lifted. Although its chubby face and posture suggest characteristics common to child figures from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, it lacks the typical attributes of child gods such as Harpocrates, Eros, or Dionysus. This indicates that it may have been part of a larger composition, perhaps accompanied by the figure of a mother.

Technological analyses using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the statue was crafted from copper mixed with lead and tin, following the lost-wax casting technique common at the time. These alloys not only facilitated metal molding but also suggest an origin in a specialized workshop, likely in Egypt or the eastern Mediterranean.

The context of the find suggests that this Roman-origin statue was not merely a decoration. Ancient objects like this often gained special significance in later periods. It is proposed that it may have been a family heirloom, a valuable object passed down through generations, or a talisman imbued with symbolic or apotropaic power to protect its owner from harm or bring good fortune.

The reuse of Roman artifacts in Byzantine contexts is not an isolated case. Other findings in Shivta, such as a Roman coin repurposed as a pendant during the Byzantine period, indicate that the people of the time valued ancient objects for their connections to the past and their potential spiritual significance.

Roman figurine byzantine Negev
The figurine was found among the remains of building 82. Credit: Yotam Tepper

The Shivta figurine is more than an archaeological artifact; it is a microcosm of history, an object encapsulating the journey of one culture to another. In the Byzantine world, deeply influenced by Christianity, the presence of a pagan object like this underscores the persistence of popular beliefs and syncretic practices that survived despite religious and cultural changes.

Furthermore, the miniature evokes an intimate experience. Its small size and detailed design invite touch, establishing an emotional connection between the object and its owner, who likely saw it as a tangible bridge to a bygone era.

While theories about the figurine’s origin and use have been proposed, questions remain. Did it arrive in Shivta as part of a trader’s or traveler’s loot? Was it truly an amulet or merely a decorative object that survived the passage of time? Most importantly, what did it symbolize to those who preserved it for centuries?

The figurine may have been brought from another Negev settlement and repurposed in Byzantine Shivta as an amulet or decorative piece. It could have been a family relic, an antiquity, or both—a relic perceived as a connection to a bygone era. This bronze figurine likely held special meaning for its owner living in Byzantine Shivta, the researchers conclude.

SOURCES

Erlich, A., Asscher, Y., & Tepper, Y. (2024). A Roman Bronze Figurine of a Seated Infant from Shivta in the Negev. Palestine Exploration Quarterly, 1–16. doi.org/10.1080/00310328.2024.2439742

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