IDOL OF ASTARTE A terracotta plaque depicting the goddess Astarte standing naked in slight relief, both hands supporting her breasts from below. Phoenicia, probably 4th century BC. Height: 13.6 cm (Visible damage, plinth) Astarte is the Canaanite/Phoenician goddess of love, sex, war and hunting, inspired by the Mesopotamian deity Inanna/Ishtar. Another similar idol is included. Provenance: reputedly acquired on the art market in the 1970s. collection C. Marseille