In the muted galleries of the National Archeology Museum of Madrid you can witness the eerily penetrating gaze and haughty expression of this ancient sculpture, which seems to radiate authority and be imbued with a uniquely commanding presence. Discovered by accident in Valencia in 1897, the bewitching and inscrutable Lady of Elche has puzzled archeologists and been the subject of fierce debate for over a century.
There have been many theories over the years as to what this mysterious limestone bust represents. She’s been called a Moorish queen, a witch, and stranger still, an “extraterrestrial visitor from another planet.” But archeologists believe the bust is actually a uniquely Iberian portrayal of the Carthaginian mother goddess, Tanit, used as a funerary urn in antiquity.
Nearby
Name | Since | Distance | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Love Art? Welcome to Madrid! en | 1.1km | site_izi | |||
Hermitage of Saint Pelagius and Saint Isidore | 2020 | 0.8km | site_ao | ||
Altamira Cave Replica | 2019 | 0.1km | site_ao | ||
Relics of St. Valentine at Iglesia de San Antón | 2019 | 0.8km | site_ao | ||
Caja de las Letras | 2019 | 0.7km | site_ao | ||
Convent of the Holy Spirit Crypts | 2019 | 1km | site_ao | ||
Madrid’s Last Horchata Kiosk | 2019 | 1.1km | site_ao | ||
Costitx Bulls | 2019 | 0km | site_ao | ||
The Lady of Cerro de los Santos | 2019 | 0km | site_ao | ||
San Antonio de los Alemanes | 2018 | 1.2km | site_ao | ||
Spain’s Good Luck Frog | 2018 | 0.2km | site_ao | ||
‘Witches’ Sabbath (The Great He-Goat)’ | 2018 | 1.1km | site_ao | ||
Guanche Mummy of Madrid | 2017 | 0km | site_ao | ||
The House of Beasts | 2018 | 1.2km | site_ao | ||
Torre de Valencia | 1968 | 0.9km | site_brutalism | ||
Apartment Building Calle Monte Esquinza 41 | 0.8km | site_brutalism | |||
Edificio Pirámide | 0.9km | site_brutalism |
About the source: Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura aims 'to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share'. You can contribute to their collection on their website.