This statuette was found in 1934, only one month after archaeological excavations had begun at Tell Ḥarīrī site. It was unearthed in the remains of a temple and represents a person who wished to be immortalized in an attitude of prayer. The inscription borne by the statuette made it possible to identify the person as one of the kings of Mari and thus to infer that the site was the ancient city itself. The inscription, covering the left shoulder and part of the back, reads:
"Lamgi-Mari, King of Mari, chief ensi of Enlil, his statue to Innana-Ush, has been dedicated".
The statuette displays royal attributes in two of its features: the arrangement of the hair and the long wavy beard. Unlike other statuettes of the same type, this one has eyes that are sculpted. A protuberance of the back suggests the tail of an animal.
Provenance: Mari.
Era: Early Bronze Age (about 2400 BC).
Substance: gypsum.
Dimensions: 27.7 x 10.3 x 11.5 cm.
Text: Michel Fortin (p. 92).
Photography: Jacques Lessard.
Collection of the National Museum of Aleppo.
Michel Fortin, Syria, Land of Civilization. Les Éditions de l'Homme, Musée de la Civilisation de Québec 1999.
André Parrot. Les fouilles de Mari (Première campagne). Syria. Archéologie, art et histoire. Année 1935 16-1 (pp. 1-28).
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