During the life of Jesus and for many hundreds of years afterwards it was the duty of the women of the household, to walk each day to the well and bring back large stone jars full of fresh water for the family to use for washing and cooking.
In biblical times, it was common for both Jewish and Arab women to cover part of their faces to signify modesty, reverence and even... social status.
This particular figure can be used in all kinds of historic settings from biblical times all the way up to the Crusades and beyond well into the various wars and Centuries.
A very useful and adaptable figure.