Cult images

human-made object that is venerated for the deity, spirit or daemon that it represents

A fetish (also spelled fetich) is an object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular, a human-made object that has power over others. Essentially, fetishism is the attribution of inherent non-material value, or powers, to an object. Talismans and amulets are related. Fetishes are often used in spiritual or religious context.

idol worshipped by the Israelites in the Book of Exodus and the First Book of Kings

In the Hindu tradition, a murti (, ) is a devotional image, such as a statue or icon, of a deity or saint used during puja and/or in other customary forms of actively expressing devotion or reverence – whether at Hindu temples or shrines. A mūrti is a symbolic icon representing divinity for the purpose of devotional activities. Thus, not all icons of gods and saints are mūrti; for example, purely decorative depictions of divine figures often adorn Hindu temple architecture in intricately carved doorframes, on colourfully painted walls, and ornately sculpted rooftop domes. A mūrti itself is not

lost sculpture by the Greek sculptor Praxiteles of Athens

in Greek mythology cult image of Athena on which the safety of Troy and later Rome was said to depend

sculpture by Phidias

ancient Greek sculpture made with gold and ivory

type of antique Venus

thumb|right|300px|"Plank figure" of chalk, Early Cypriot III to Middle Cypriot I, 1900-1800 BCE in the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens).

mask possibly depicting Inanna

thumb|Teraphim depicted in the Oedipus Aegyptiacus ([[Athanasius Kircher, 1652)]] Teraphim () is a word from the Hebrew Bible, found only in the plural, and of uncertain etymology. Despite being plural, teraphim may refer to singular objects. Teraphim is defined in classical rabbinical literature as "disgraceful things", but this is dismissed by modern etymologists. Many Bible translations into English translate it as idols or household god(s); its exact meaning in ancient times is unknown.

thumb|250px|Guatimac in the Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz. Guatimac or the Idol of Guatimac is an owl-shaped Guanche cult image, found in 1885, hidden in a cave between the municipalities of Fasnia and Güímar (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) wrapped in goat hide.

thumb|CIMRM 641: Tauroctony scene on side A of a two-sided Roman bas-relief. 2nd or 3rd century, found at Fiano Romano, near [[Rome, now on display in the Louvre. In the upper corners are Helios with the raven, and Luna.]]

sculptural type

Greek statue

bust of Antinous found in the Roman villa

ancient Greek sculpture

Roman statue

religious concept

statue of goddess Minerva or Athena

statuette of a male found in Greece

Article of Inanna temple