Votive statue of gudea of lagash biography

27 statues found in southern Mesopotamia

Not to be confused with Gudea cylinders.

Approximately twenty-seven statues of Gudea have been found in southern Mesopotamia.

Gudea was a ruler (ensi) of the state of Lagash between c. 2144 BC and 2124 BC, and the statues demonstrate a very sophisticated level of craftsmanship for that time. The known statues have been named by archaeologists as "A" to "Z" and "AA".

Many statues are headless, and there are also detached heads.

Votive statue of gudea of lagash biography wikipedia

Gudea is named in the dedicatory inscription carved on most statues, but in some cases the identity of the ruler portrayed is uncertain.

Provenance

Statues A–K were found during Ernest de Sarzec's excavations in the court of the Hellenistic-era palace of Adad-nadin-ahhe (see Adadnadinakhe bricks) in Telloh (ancient Girsu).

Statues M–Q come from clandestine excavations in Telloh in 1924; the rest come from the art trade, with unknown provenances and sometimes of doubtful authent