Votive Statue Dedicated by Prince Ginak — Mesopotamia, c. 2700–2600 BC/BCE
Votive Statue Dedicated by Prince Ginak — Mesopotamia,
c. 2700–2600 BC/BCE
This limestone statue depicts a worshipper standing with his hands clasped in prayer, a characteristic pose in Early Dynastic Mesopotamian religious art. The figure was made between 2700 and 2600 BC/BCE. It has long hair, a long beard, and it used to have eyes with inlays, but those inlays have since vanished. He wears a short kaunakes, a distinctive garment decorated with a single row of hanging wool-like elements.
The right upper arm
and shoulder are inscribed in Sumerian cuneiform. The text describes the
sculpture as a votive dedication to Prince Ginak. This kind of statue was
erected in sacred places to represent their devotees in front of the gods.
Their hands were clasped, indicating constant devotion and prayer. The statue
is thought to be from the Diyala region of ancient Mesopotamia and stands about
25.5 centimeters (10 inches) tall. Despite damage to the legs and left elbow,
it remains a striking example of human representation from more than 4,600
years ago. Today it is displayed in the
Louvre's galleries devoted to Early Mesopotamia.

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