FOUR BROAD FENESTRATED AXES IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM: SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON A SYMBOLIC WEAPON BETWEEN THE 3RD AND THE 2ND MILLENNIUM BC

This paper illustrates four bronzeLevantine fenestrated axes dating back from the Early Bronze IVB (2200-2000/1950 BC)to Middle I(2000/1950-1800 BC)preserved in collection of British Museum.1The study gets underway some recent discoveries (‘Enot Shumi, Sana’iye, al-Nasim) and takes opportunity to re-analyze corpus Levantine axes, update it by defining diagnostic chronological characteristics, highlight symbolic value these weapons divine, rulership ritual realms