Aphidian (reptilian) figurines of the Ubaid culture

March 08, 2026

IraqGeneral

City/town/settlement< 4500 BC

Source: 7,000-Year-Old REPTILIAN Ubaid Statuettes of Mesopotamia | Ancient Architects by Ancient Architects

Key facts:

- Terracotta figurines with elongated heads and reptilian features are classified as Ubaid lizard (ophidian) figurines.

- They date to the 5th millennium BC and are associated with the Ubaid culture of southern Mesopotamia.

- Found at sites such as Eridu, many were discovered in domestic contexts, graves, or near temples.

- The figurines are 5–10 cm tall, often slender, and may represent youth, elite status, or ritual objects.

Key facts

Terracotta figurines with elongated heads, coffee‑bean eyes, and snake‑like features are classified as Aphidian figurines.
They date to the 5th millennium BC and are associated with the Ubaid culture of southern Mesopotamia.
Found in sites such as Eridu, Uric, and Erodu, many were discovered in domestic contexts, graves, or near temples.
The figurines are 5–10 cm tall, often slender, and may represent youth, elite status, or ritual objects.

Site mentioned

📄 Eridu 🌍 Show on the globe

Sources

Enigmatic Ubaid Lizardmen: 7000-Year-Old Artifacts With Reptile ...howandwhys.com

Enigmatic Ubaid Lizardmen: 7000-Year-Old Artifacts With Reptile Head Found In Iraq ... What do these lizard statues symbolize then? Some ...

Unraveling the Mystery of the Ubaid Lizard Figurines – Indrosphereindroyc.com

Notably, the Lizard Figurines, with their unique reptilian features, suggest complex societal beliefs, including possible connections to ...

What is known about the Ubaid lizard-people figurines?history.stackexchange.com

I find the Ubaid lizard-people figurines visually captivating. ... reptilian? (Going by the bug-eyes, snouts, and open nostrils, in the ...

Ubaid figurine resembling alien stumps archaeologists in Kuwaitfoxnews.com

A strange alien-like clay head dating back thousands of years has been retrieved from an excavation in Kuwait, stumping archaeologists about how it came to be.

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