Tax included in product price. Excludes shipping, calculated at checkout
Add a touch of cultural history to your home décor with this scented room votive icon. Inspired by the terracotta figures once left at ancient Cypriot sanctuaries and modelled after the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, each votive figurine is hand-sculpted and cast before being finished by hand.
Hand-sculpted and cast in wax inspired by the ancient goddess figurines found across Cyprus from approximately 1400 BCE. Scented with frankincense, oud, labdanum, sandalwood, beeswax, and sacred florals. An olfactory interpretation of the ancient Cypriot temples.
Used as a sacred object gifted to a deity, a votive is an ancient symbolic offering not meant to be retrieved that often symbolize thanks, or fulfilment of a vow. This goddess icon makes the perfect spiritual gift to express gratitude and devotion.
Each item is sold individually.
This scented figurine is part of the special exhibition collection accompanying Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess on display at the Ashmolean Museum 8 October 2026 to 11 April 2027.
Ishtar, one of the most prominent deities in Babylonian and Mesopotamian mythology, holds a significant place in the hearts and minds of ancient peoples. Known as the goddess of love and war, Ishtar embodies the duality of human experience, representing both the nurturing aspects of love and the fierce nature of conflict.
Alashiya is a natural perfume house, named after the oldest recorded name for Cyprus, where some of the earliest perfumery in the world was found. Founded in London by Omar Suleyman, a scent artist of Cypriot heritage, everything they make is hand-produced in small batches, with their natural perfumes using only pure botanical materials including essential oils, absolutes, resins, and plant extracts sourced for quality and provenance.
Please note: due to the hand finished nature of this product, no two are exactly alike in appearance. Images are for reference only.
Materials: Hand-sculpted cast wax
Dimensions: 8.5 x 2.2 x 3 cm
Shipping to United States of America is now available
Pickup
Our Pickup service is a convenient way for you to order online and collect your purchase in person at the Museum. Simply select the Pickup option at checkout.
You will be notified when your order is ready for collection. Please don't come to the museum to collect until you have received the email notification. We ask that you collect your Pickup order from the Ashmolean Shop (Level -1) before 4pm.
Once you have received the collection notification, we will hold your order for you up to 2 weeks. Please ensure that you visit the Museum to collect your order within 2 weeks.
The Online Shop team operates between Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00, so please allow time for us to prepare your order for collection, particularly at busy times of the year. We aim to have your order ready for collection within 72 hours.
Delivery Information
The Online Shop team operates between Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00, so please allow time for us to prepare your order for dispatch before contacting us. We aim to dispatch your purchases within 3-5 working days and you will receive an email notification when your order has been dispatched. In addition, while we endeavour to get your parcel to you as quickly as possible, you may experience delays through your local postal service.
All products excluding Print on Demand prints:
All our UK orders are dispatched via Royal Mail First Class post or DHL, and the shipping cost will be calculated at checkout based on the weight of the items included in the order.
All International orders are dispatched using DHL DAP service. This means that we will only charge you for the cost of shipping. We offer a flat rate of shipping according to the delivery address location. Additional local duties and taxes charges, such as Goods and Services Tax (GST), may be applicable and will be calculated and charged to the recipient during customs clearance. The duties and taxes will be calculated according to the value, Country of Origin, and product type of the order contents, as well as local VAT.
Customs policies vary for each country, so it is advised you contact your local customs office for further information.
Delivery Costs and Timeframes:
UK 1st Class: delivery 2-5 business days from dispatch
- Small – Medium parcel (<1,999g) – shipping cost £5.00
- Medium – Large parcel (2,000g – 5,000g) – shipping cost £8.00
Europe: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays). PO Box addresses cannot be accepted.
- Flat rate (2,000g maximum) – shipping cost £24.00 (does not include taxes and duties)
Rest of World: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays). PO Box addresses cannot be accepted.
- Flat rate (2,000g maximum) – shipping cost £28.00 (does not include taxes and duties)
Weight Restrictions
There is 5kg weight restriction for UK orders, and a 2kg weight restriction for International orders. If your order exceeds this weight, please contact the Online Shop team so that we can organise a quote for special delivery: onlineshop@ashmus.ox.ac.uk
Further information on our delivery options and returns policy can be found in Shipping & Returns.
