What was Gudea known for?
Gudea was a great king, because he did what great and noteworthy kings do; he built walls to successfully protect his city and its people from clear and present danger(s), he also built temples, and helped things like art and social justice thrive under his rule.
What was Gudea of Lagash famous for?
Gudea’s appearance is recognizable today because he had numerous statues or idols, depicting him with unprecedented, lifelike realism, placed in temples throughout Sumer. Gudea took advantage of artistic development because he evidently wanted posterity to know what he looked like.
Who created the Gudea of Lagash statue?
Neo-Sumerian
Museum Hours
Artist | Neo-Sumerian, Mesopotamian |
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Title | Gudea of Lagash |
Date | 2150 – 2125 BCE |
Medium | paragonite |
Dimensions | Overall: 15 1/2 × 5 1/4 × 2 1/2 inches (39.4 × 13.3 × 6.4 cm) |
What was the statue of Gudea made of?
diorite
This sculpture belongs to a series of diorite statues commissioned by Gudea, who devoted his energies to rebuilding the great temples of Lagash and installing statues of himself in them. Many inscribed with his name and divine dedications survive.
Where was the Gudea of Lagash statue made?
southern Mesopotamia
Approximately twenty-seven statues of Gudea, a ruler (ensi) of the state of Lagash have been found in southern Mesopotamia. Gudea ruled between c. 2144–2124 BC and the statues demonstrate a very sophisticated level of craftsmanship for the time. The known statues have been categorised ‘A-AB’ by archaeologists.
How was the statue of Gudea made?
The dedication of the diorite statues normally tell how ensi Gudea had diorite brought from the mountains of Magan, formed it as a statue of himself, called by name to honour god/goddess (x) and had the statue brought into the temple of (y).
What was the purpose of these statuettes from the square temple at Eshnunna?
These statuettes functioned as a symbolic “stand-in” for the donor in worship, remember ziggurat temples were very restricted access in Mesopotamia. These objects were carefully interred under the floor of the temple after use and were found by archeologists in the 1930s in the same hole they were laid in!
What does the Statue of gudea represent?
Description and purpose. The statues were to represent the ruler in temples, to offer a constant prayer in his stead; offerings were made to these. Most of the statues bear an inscribed dedication explaining to which god it was dedicated.