Flügelfrau mit Räucherbecken

Incense sacrifice had a central meaning to the Paphos Aphrodite religion, and represented an important part of the cult’s ceremonies. Offering devices were usually incense burners (Thymiateria), made mostly out of clay, bronze, precious metal, sometimes out of stone. This incense burner with a winged woman is among the few remaining examples of the adorned limestone Thymiateria. Before a pillar-like stand which holds the round beaker, stands a feminine winged figure. She is dressed in a double-belted narrow chiton (blouse), diadem, earrings, throat-band, breast-chain and arm-rings. In the outstretched hand she holds a winged Sun, the symbol of the god Horus.

A. Bernhard-Walcher u. a., Die Sammlung zyprischer Antiken im KHM. Sammlungskataloge des KHM Bd. 2, Wien: 1999