Lady of Cerro de los Santos

The Lady of Cerro de los Santos, also known as the Gran Dama Oferente, is a captivating Iberian sculpture from the 2nd century BCE. This limestone statue, standing at 1.3 meters tall, is proudly displayed in the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, Spain.

Unearthed in 1870 at the ancient sanctuary of Cerro de los Santos in Montealegre del Castillo, within Spain's Albacete province, the statue depicts a full-length female figure. The name Gran Dama Oferente derives from the way the woman is portrayed holding a container, seemingly in the act of offering it.

Dressed in three elegant robes secured with a fibula at the neck, the statue also features intricately braided hair adorned with three necklaces. The Lady of Cerro de los Santos is depicted wearing fitted shoes and a distinctive rodete or wheel headgear, although one side of the headgear is unfortunately broken off.

The statue's drapery, cascading in a distinctive zigzag pattern, is reminiscent of that seen on the Lady of Baza, another Phoenician-influenced Iberian sculpture from the same era. This shared style highlights the cultural connections and artistic influences of the period.