By the 7th century BCE, Astarte’s cult had come to Cyprus and this terracotta figure may be one of her devotees. As Astarte's icons traveled throughout the Mediterranean, she evolved as a goddess of war, love, fertility, and hunting.

Fertility figures appear as anthropomorphic and zoomorphic throughout the Cypriotic periods. During a period of significant contact with the Levant peoples, bird-faced, female figurines became common, suggesting their influence.

This object was excavated from the tombs at Nicosia-Ayia Paraskevi. It is one of many mold-made terracotta works featuring avian characteristics. She holds a small infant in her arms, and has wide hips and an exaggerated pubic triangle.

Statuette of a woman with bird face