The statuettes of praying figures unearthed in the temples of Mari were carved out of gypsum. This material was mined from cliffs along the banks of the Euphrates in the Mari region. The sculptors gave the figures very round eyes since this was supposed to express the adoration offered the people who were represented by the orants. The eyes were made with bits of blue lapis lazuli, white shell, white schist and black bitumen, which was used as an adhesive to hold the inlaid parts in the eye sockets. The worshippers were shown dressed in sheepskin, goatskin or sometimes a cloth garment fringed along the lower edge with tufts of animal fleece.