Iberia, Greece, Phoenicia. Three cultural regions of the ancient Mediterranean that the sea did not separate but continuously brought into contact with one another. Craftsmen, knowledge, techniques, and objects circulated from the shores of one region to those of another, and the Lady of Elche is one of the most impressive examples of the fruitful interaction resulting from these exchanges.

She was discovered by chance on August 4, 1897, in ancient Iberian Helike, a short distance from Elche south of Alicante. Initially, she was exhibited at the Louvre and then returned to Spain, to the Prado Museum. She is considered not only one of the most important works of Iberian art, but also a symbol of Spain.

Over the centuries, the Lady of Elche has generated many discussions and interpretations in the world of archaeology. Due to the uniqueness of her jewelry, the common people of Elche saw in her a “Moorish queen.” French archaeologist Pierre Paris discerned in her “a true Greek beauty,” while the Franco regime used the monument as evidence of the unbroken continuity of Iberian civilization in Spain.

The story of the Lady of Elche is a characteristic example of how archaeology helps shape cultural history and national narratives.