Statue Of A Priestess

Description

Seated on a throne, this woman has a large shawl draped over her polos and shoulders. Both the shawl and her robe are made of tufted material described in Cat. No. 61. The nose and right cheek are slightly damaged, but details missing in Cat. No. 63–the lapis lazuli inlaid strands of hair framing the face-are preserved. The upper body and part of the robe as well as the cube-shaped throne are heavily damaged. The sides of the throne are carved in relief showing a woodwork design. The feet are rendered naturalistically.

Excavated from: Mari (Tell Hariri), Temple of Ishtar
Date: Late Early Dynastic period, 2600–2350 B.C
Material: Gypsum
Item Dimensions: Total height: 34.4 cm; throne: 14.0 x 10.2 x 13.5 cm
Archaeological Mission:
National Museum Of Damascus (2011) – Damascus S 2072 (M. 2308/ 2368/ 2383)
Index code: Dam 089-2

Excavation Site Location

References

Braun-Holzinger, Eva Andrea. Frühdynastische Beterstatuetten. Abhandlungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft 19. Berlin: Gebr. Mann Verlag, 1977, p. 60 (Stilstufe III).
Parrot, André. Mission archéologique de Mari. Vol. 3, Les temples d’Ishtarat et de Ninni-Zaza. Bibliothèque archéologique et historique 86. Paris: Librairie orientaliste Paul Geuthner, 1967, p. 96, figs. 134–135, pls. XLVIII–L.
Spycket, Agnès. La statuaire du Proche-Orient ancien. Handbuch der Orientalistik, 7. Abteilung, Kunst und Archäologie, vol. 1, section 2B. Leiden and Cologne: E. J. Brill, 1981, p. 111.
Strommenger, Eva. Fünf Jahrtausende Mesopotamien: Die Kunst von den Anfängen um 5000 v. Chr. bis zu Alexander dem Großen. Photographs by Max Hirmer. Munich: Hirmer Verlag, 1962, p. 70, fig. 95, left.

Literature: A. Parrot MAM III (1967) 96, Figs. 134, 135, Plates XLVIII-L // Strommenger and Hirmer Mesopotamien 70, Fig. 95 left // Braun-Holzinger Beterstatuetten 60 (Stilstufe III) // Spycket La Statuaire 111

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