EYE IDOLS

This display in our Ancient Middle East Gallery brings whole families of Eye Idols to life!

Made by children and mums from the Syrian Sisters group during an online workshop in 2021, these Eye Idols are inspired by ancient versions from Tell Brak (north eastern Syria) which date to around 3600 BCE.

Each Eye Idol has been imagined as a family member with a name and personality.

EYE IDOL FAMILIES DISPLAY

See the display in our Ancient Middle East Gallery.

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BACK ROW (L-R)

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Vegetarian

VEGETARIAN  (Baby Girl)
Made by Gogo, aged 5
Mood: Happy
Likes: Candy
Dislikes: Fish

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Mr Smiley Boy

MR SMILEY BOY (Brother)
Made by Sherwan, aged 6
Likes: Playing in the park
Dislikes: His sister

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye Idol figure called George

GEORGE (Dad)
Made by the Mervet Family
Mood: Happy
Likes: Drinking tea
Dislikes: Loud voices

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Mr Dotted Baby

MR DOTTED BABY (Baby Brother)
Made by Ahmed, aged 11
Mood: Chilled
Likes: Fiddling with things
Dislikes: His dummy

 

MIDDLE ROW (L-R)

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Mr Chubby

MR CHUBBY (Dad)

Made by Sherwan, aged 6
Mood: Angry (due to naughty children)
Likes: Chatting on phone and eating lots!

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Mummy-4-Eyes

MUMMY 4 EYES (Mum)
Made by mum, Nuha
Mood: Cheerful – not grumpy!
Likes: Elephants

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Mr Hungry

MR HUNGRY (Baby Boy)
Made by Sherwan, aged 6
Mood: Hungry/Sad
Likes: His sister
Dislikes: Leaves (too small and green)

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Mr The Man Who Doesn't Like Music

MR THE-GUY-WHO-DOESN'T-LIKE-MUSIC (Dad)

Made by Mokhlesa, aged 11,  and Mouhra, aged 8
Mood: Tired from working so hard
Likes: Naps
Dislikes: Electronics and loud music

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye Idol called Layan

LAYAN (Daughter)
Made by Layan, aged 13
Mood: Happy
Likes: Singing
Dislikes: Angry people

 

FRONT ROW (L-R)

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Lil Pump

 

LIL PUMP (Brother)

Made by Mokhles, aged 11
Mood: Happy
Likes: Rap and hip-hop music
Dislikes: Rudeness

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Miss Holly

MISS HOLLY (Sister)

Made by Sofia, aged 13
Mood: Shock!
Likes: Chocolate
Dislikes: Carrots

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye Idol figure called Mr Bin

MR BIN (Son)

Made by Sofia, aged 12
Mood: Moody
Likes: Playing with water
Dislikes: Crying

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Lilly

LILY (Mum)

Made by Mouhra, aged 8
Mood: Excited
Likes: Cooking
Dislikes: Noisy stuff

Light coloured stone or clay carving of an Eye idol called Leaf Boy

 

LEAF BOY (Brother)

Made by Niran, aged 6
Mood: Cheerful
Likes: Leaves - he wants to fly like one!
Dislikes: Walnuts (he’s allergic)

 

WITH THANKS TO THE SYRIAN SISTERS

The Museum would like to extend a huge thanks to all the families and to Nuha Abdo, founder of the Syrian Sisters who coordinated this project alongside Ashmolean Learning staff. The Syrian Sisters group provide support and friendship for Syrian families as they integrate into the UK. 

Syrian Sisters Logo a green line depicting a woman's face and green leaves