A rare clay mold used to cast female figurines during the First Temple period has been discovered in Jerusalem's Old City, offering a window into the everyday spiritual lives of ancient Judeans — lives that may have existed in tension with the religious prohibitions recorded in biblical texts. The mold, found during excavations at the Tower of David Museum ahead of construction of the new Schulich Wing for Archaeology, Art, and Innovation, is the first of its kind ever discovered in Israel from that era.
The artifact was unearthed while sifting soil from fills and accumulations dating to the First Temple period, according to Israel Antiquities Authority Excavation Directors Dr. Amit Re'em and Dr. Ayala Zilberstein. Re'em said the Kishle excavation, ongoing for several years, continues to surprise researchers and presents Jerusalem's history in a clear and continuous sequence, from the days of the Kings of Judah through the British Mandate.
A Face Emerges From Clay
After discovery, the mold was handed to Tamar Gonen, a ceramics conservation and restoration specialist at the IAA, who cleaned the artifact and revealed finely crafted facial features within. Conservation specialist Sviatoslav Klindukhov then created a cast, producing a full reconstruction of a female figurine's face with clearly defined features and an elaborate curly hairstyle.
The Jerusalem find is the first mold of its kind in the city. Re'em said clay figurines from the First Temple period have been found in almost every excavation conducted in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, but no production molds had ever been discovered. That raised the question of whether they were manufactured locally or imported from elsewhere. The discovery at the Kishle provides direct evidence that at least some of these figurines were produced within the city itself.
Everyday Objects, Unclear Purpose
Three prominent types of First Temple figurines have been found: female figurines, commonly known as Judean Pillar Figurines; those depicting a horse and its rider; and zoomorphic, or animal, figurines, primarily representing horses. Made of clay, these figurines are often between approximately 10 and 20 centimeters high. They're typically covered in a white coating, though surviving traces of pigment indicate they were originally painted in yellow, red and black. When discovered, they're often found broken at the neck, a result of the manufacturing technique in which the head and body were made separately by hand, while only the face was formed using a mold.
According to IAA Iron Age Curator Debbi Ben-Ami, the function of the Judean Pillar Figurines hasn't yet been fully understood. She said the fact that they've been found in almost every household, as well as in streets and tombs, indicates that they were objects of everyday use, while their identity and purpose remain the subject of scholarly debate. Scholars have proposed several interpretations, including that they represent a fertility goddess such as Asherah, the ancient Northwest Semitic goddess believed to have been the wife of El or Yahweh. Other scholars have suggested the figurines might have been children's toys. A third possibility is that they served as blessing figures, household amulets intended to bring protection and good fortune.
The Biblical Contradiction
Ben-Ami also said the use of figurines during the First Temple period seems to contradict the biblical prohibition, quoting Exodus 20:3: "Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness." She said, "We don't know exactly what the biblical prohibition refers to, but the archaeological reality is that figurines are found in every home. We have no texts indicating exactly what was done with these figurines, but we know they were in homes, on the streets and in tombs."
She added, "In the past, attempts were made to name the figurines, like Asherah" and said some thought they were fertility figurines or children's toys. "Personally, I see them as a mediating figure," she said. "When you ask the upper realms for blessings and abundance, you're seeking an intermediary. Maybe it's a minor goddess. We don't know what rituals were performed with these figurines. Many more questions than answers surround this issue."
Tower of David Jerusalem Museum Director and Chief Curator Eilat Lieber said the discovery of the first mold for producing figurines dating to the First Temple period has generated tremendous excitement. She said the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum is built on the idea that Jerusalem's past continues to shape its present, and that this summer visitors will have the opportunity to take part in real archaeological research by sifting soil from the Kishle excavations. She said every fragment recovered helps illuminate another chapter in the story of Jerusalem, making participants true partners in preserving and revealing the city's heritage.
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said that, according to the Jewish sages, the First Temple was destroyed because of three principal sins: idolatry, sexual immorality and bloodshed. He said the discovery of a mold for producing figurines from the First Temple period in the heart of Jerusalem offers a tangible glimpse into the world in which the prophets of Israel lived and into the spiritual and cultural realities they confronted. He said that when such an artifact emerges from the soil of Jerusalem, history becomes real and immediate, and that this small piece of pottery tells the story of the beliefs, customs and spiritual challenges that characterized the capital city in ancient times.
Why This Matters:
The discovery of this mold reveals a gap between religious law as recorded in scripture and the lived practices of ordinary Judeans during the First Temple period. The ubiquity of these figurines — found in nearly every household excavated — suggests that popular religion in ancient Jerusalem was far more complex and syncretic than biblical texts alone would indicate. For contemporary audiences, the find offers a reminder that religious communities have always negotiated between official doctrine and daily practice, between the ideal and the real. It also underscores the value of archaeological evidence in complicating singular narratives about the past. The mold doesn't diminish the significance of biblical prohibitions; it contextualizes them, showing that ancient Judeans, like people in every era, lived with contradictions, sought comfort in everyday rituals, and found ways to navigate the demands of faith and the needs of daily life. The figurine's purpose may remain uncertain, but its presence is undeniable — a small clay face that speaks across millennia about the human need for connection, protection, and hope.