Unearthing Arabia: The Archaeological Adventures of Wendell Phillips

Incense burner

Incense burnerThe most common objects found in South Arabia are incense burners. Chiseled primarily out of limestone, they assume various angular shapes and sizes. The decoration usually incorporates familiar motifs, such as the auspicious symbol of an ibex, a crescent moon associated with a local god, or blind architectural windows. Hot coals placed in the cavity of the burner would have heated the incense and slowly emitted its fragrant smoke.


Incense burner
Timna, early 1st century CE
Limestone
LTS1992.6.12

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