Polytheism,

Canaanite enthroned deity, c.14th-13th century BCE. Possibly El. 
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/322889

I've seen photo's of this figurine before, it's difficult to tell if it's male or female.

Have you seen some of the early statues of Aphrodite? They're very different to the later ones, much less sexualised and more, to my mind, powerful. Aphrodite was a Goddess long before Zeus and the rest of them turned up and she was "demoted" to a daughter of Zeus, it's more than likely Hera was worshipped independently before she was "married" to Zeus.

Mary Beard did a brilliant series on ancient art it might of been Vile Bodies or it might have been one of her other programes, I can't remember and my internet search skills aren't up to finding it.

I don’t know that much about Aphrodite, though I recall having seen her portrayed in different ways. You have inspired me to find out more tomorrow.

I like Mary Beard. I have two of her books, Pompeii, and Women & Power.

Yes, I do watch her but I need to catch up on this series. I enjoyed her previous serious about the Nabataeans and the incense trail. It helped illustrate how disparate groups of people would have been coming and going, trading to and fro across the  Levant and beyond the shores of the Mediterranean. 

Do you listen to podcasts? Willian Dalrymple has a series on Ancient Gaza which had input from the author Josephine Quinn. It was very good. He also did a series on the Nabataeans. Podcasts are free through Amazon and other places.

I don't know if you watch her, but Bettany Hughes has a series on tonight about ancient and not so ancient treasures, it's been really fascinating.

I don't know if you watch her, but Bettany Hughes has a series on tonight about ancient and not so ancient treasures, it's been really fascinating.

Yes, I do watch her but I need to catch up on this series. I enjoyed her previous serious about the Nabataeans and the incense trail. It helped illustrate how disparate groups of people would have been coming and going, trading to and fro across the  Levant and beyond the shores of the Mediterranean. 

Do you listen to podcasts? Willian Dalrymple has a series on Ancient Gaza which had input from the author Josephine Quinn. It was very good. He also did a series on the Nabataeans. Podcasts are free through Amazon and other places.