Mikeldi idol, Iron Age zoomorphic sculpture at Euskal Museoa, Spain
The Mikeldi Idol is a stone carving that depicts a male hog with a disc beneath its belly, standing about 1.64 meters tall. The figure was shaped from local sandstone and now resides in the Euskal Museoa in Bilbao, where it is carefully preserved and displayed for visitors to examine.
This carving dates back to the Iron Age, when the people of this region created it to express their world. It was first documented in writing in 1634 but then fell into obscurity until 1896, when local authorities decided to display it publicly again.
The sculpture was a symbol of power and authority for the Iron Age people who created it. These animal figures held deep meaning in local beliefs and daily life, representing forces that people wanted to honor or remember.
You can find this sculpture in the Euskal Museoa in downtown Bilbao, where information panels in Spanish and Basque provide context about the piece. The museum is easy to reach and the artifact is displayed in a way that helps you understand its importance and age.
The disc beneath the animal's belly bears ancient etchings that researchers believe may represent religious symbols or territorial claims. These hidden marks reveal that the creators invested deeper meaning into the piece than what first appears to the eye.
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