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Iberian sculpture, a subset ofIberian art, describes the varioussculptural styles developed by theIberians from theBronze Age up to theRoman conquest. For this reason it is sometimes described as Pre-Roman Iberian sculpture.
Almost all extant works of Iberian sculpture visibly reflectGreek andPhoenician influences, andAssyrian,Hittite andEgyptian influences from which those derived (especially the Phoenician one); yet they have their own unique character. Within this complex stylistic heritage, individual works can be placed within a spectrum of influences- some of more obvious Phoenician derivation, and some so similar to Greek works that they could have been directly imported from that region. Overall the degree of influence is correlated to the work's region of origin, and hence they are classified into groups on that basis.
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The sculptures that comprise theLevantine group were mostly made between the 5th century B.C. and the period of Roman domination; this group is best represented in museum collections. The most famous among them is the bust known asTheLady of Elche, which displays evident Greek influence. Works in this style number over 670; though there are stylistic differences, which testify to the successive influences of conquering peoples.
More visibly oriental references, possibly influenced by the Egyptiansphinx and the AssyrianLamassu, are evident in the various stone sculptures in the form of sphinxes, bulls, or lions found in the area ofValencia,Alicante, andAlbacete. They include:
The numerous statues of bronze (some of silver) found in two places of the region of Sierra Morena in the province ofJaén can be considered to be more indigenous derivatives of the initial, Greek and oriental- influenced, Levantine sculptural style.
In the period between the 5th century BC and the 5th century AD, sanctuaries likeMontealegre used small bronze castings, rather than stone carvings, as votive offerings. These sculptures were cast from earthen molds in molten bronze in the technique oflost wax casting, but since the mold was rendered useless after only one casting, two identical works have yet to be found amongst these sculptures. Approximately 4,000 sculptures in this style have been excavated, depicting Iberian warriors, riders, religious celebrants, small horses, and body parts.
A great deal of Greek andPunic statues and busts inTerra cotta, together with various amulets in ivory, metal or carved of thin stone, have been uncovered at the necropolis ofIbiza,La Palma, andFormentera. The oldest have been dated to the 8th century B.C., and they most likely continued to be made up to the Roman domination.These include:
Pieces also considered to be of Phoenician or Punic origin but with Greek influence include the bronze heads of bulls (probably votive offerings) found inMajorca.
A very earlyPhoenician piece fromGalera, Granada depicts a seated female, perhaps theNear Eastern goddessAstarte, flanked by sphinxes. Known as theLady of Galera, it is analabaster femalefigurine, made in the 7th century BC, and is at theNational Archaeological Museum of Spain, inMadrid.[1][2]
In 2023, two female stone busts were discovered at theTuruñuelo archeological site inGuareña, Spain, that are somewhat similar to the Lady of Elche, but are about a century earlier, dating to the 5th century BC. They were found in the context of theTartessos culture. The busts feature details ofjewelry andhairstyles, and are thought to be the first facial representations of Tartessian goddesses.[3][4]
The southern group is principally composed of sculptures found in sepulchers, and other funeral monuments, in theAndalusian region. Most of them display heavy Phoenician influence. They are as follows:
The western group is composed of granite funeralstelae from Portugal andGalicia that represent foot soldiers dressed in tunics and armed with round shields. These sculptures are relatively coarsely worked. Some of them bear Roman inscriptions, which were probably added long after the figures were carved.
In the center of the Peninsula, between the riversDouro andTagus there are many granite sculptures roughly carved in the form of bulls, or perhaps some other animal. Some of these also have Roman inscriptions, which again were probably added later. The most famous of these monuments are the four known as theBulls of Guisando. Archeologists[who?] consider them to be works of the same culture that carved the sphinxes of the Levantine region.[citation needed]
Also in this category are the alabaster figure, possibly of Astarte, from Galera (National Archaeological Museum)
However, we should stop to look at the Galera Goddess (Granada), a Syrian alabaster sculpture of the 7th century BC..
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