Now seen as one of Spain’s most famous icons, the bust is known as the Lady of Elche. The bust shows the woman’s head, neck, and shoulders, and extends down to her chest. The Dama de Elche bust. Some independent researchers have argued that the woman’s head is elongated, and the spools reflect a type of technological headgear. (Emilio Garcia/CC BY-SA 2.0)The disputes and theories regarding the Lady of Elche illustrate the cultural importance of the bust.

Source: New York Times May 01, 2024 20:32 UTC