Comparing The Statue Of Gudea

All over the world statues have been a common form of art among many civilizations throughout history. Two examples of these historical pieces of work would include, The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu, and Statue of Gudea. According to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2017), the first sculpture dates back during the fourth dynasty of ancient Egypt between 2575 and 2465 BC. The second statue, according to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2017), which was made of diorite was created around 2090 BC, during the Neo-Sumerian period, near Mesopotamia. Looking further into the background and composition of these two sculptures it can be found that The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu, and Statue of Gudea share some characteristics while at the same time differing in some important details.

Introduction: A sculpture is defined as the art of making three-dimensional representative or abstract forms, which are specially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster. Sculptures, therefore make us to know the history of the life of the ancient people like their thought life, behavior and their ways of life generally. A Statue on the other hand, is defined as a figure usually of a person or animal that is made from stone or metal.

The artworks of Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt are both strikingly different and similar at the same time. Consistent is the theme of serving the different gods the two cultures believed in. In Mesopotamia the various city-states each had their own protective deity, and in Egypt they sometimes differed from one dynasty to the next. Whatever the case, with the beginning of kingdoms and rulership came the need to justify a position of power and establish a hierarchy. And as more time passed came also the human need to leave an impression on their world. Looking at the example of the statues of Gudea from the Neo-Sumerian period and the Temple of Ramses II from the New Kingdom of Egypt in the 19th dynasty, will show how both rulers of

The statue of King Sahure and a Nome god is an interesting piece of Ancient Egyptian art ( c. 2500 BC ) that shows signs of Ancient Egyptian culture and beliefs. The statue is a small relief sculpture, meaning the sculptural elements are attached to the solid background of the sculpture and appears to be emerging from the material. The piece clearly depicts two figures side by side, one standing on the left and one sitting on the right (facing foreward). The purpose of this piece was probably to depict a certain symbolic interaction between the two characters.

Modern figurines of art stem directly from the hands of the ancient’s. The organic forms of modernly sculpted artifacts can most likely be directly referenced to the movements of prehistoric artworks. There seems to be an ongoing transition on how cultures no matter how stretched apart through time, contrasted by ethnicity or religious views; can all be somewhat related to each other by the methods or principles portrayed through their artworks. In fact, I saw that very transition; within two works in which are extremely different in meaning, craftsmanship, time, culture and so on. However, I was still able to find similarities within the artifacts. In this paper I will examine Venus of Willendorf, a Paleolithic carving in limestone; which can fit in the palm of one’s hand. As well as, The Sacrifice of Chacmool, which are a plethora of Mesoamerican statues emulating rituals of sacrifice.

The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu statue was used in the ancient tombs and burial grounds of Ancient Egypt. The purpose of the statue was to give the deceased spirits a home and a place where they could received the gifts of food that used to be laid outside their tomb after they had passed away (Metropolitan Museum of Art a, 2016). The Statue of Gudea was used to honour the lives of the rulers in Ancient Iraq. The statue was one of many that were placed in temples throughout the Lagash region of Iraq honouring the great leader (Metropolitan Museum of Art b, 2016).

Discovery of Statues in Lagash Lagash was one of the oldest cities in Sumer and Babylonia. Today it is represented by a long line of ruin mounds, which are rather low, now known as Tello al-Hiba in Iraq. Located northwest of the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and east of the ancient city of Uruk, it is positioned on the dry bed of an ancient canal, approximately 10 miles north of the modern town of Shatra. # The ruins of Lagash were discovered in 1877 by Ernest de Sarzec, a Frenchman, who was allowed by the Montefich chief, Nasir Pasha, to excavate the site at his pleasure in the territories under the governing of Nasir Pasha.

In this essay, I will attempt to compare and contrast two sculptures, the statue of Gudea, prince of Lagash, c. 2120 BC from the Neo–Sumerian period (The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2015)) and the Egyptian statue of Memi and Sabu. The statue of prince Gudea is a fairly small sculpture about two feet tall and is made out of hard stone diorite. Looking closely, we see a handsome man. His face is idealized in a way his features for instance his eyes, nose and mouth are sculpted in a very stereotypical way that is commonly seen in ancient Greece and Egypt sculptures.

Although the physical appearance and clothing of the couple in the Statue of Memi and Sabu suggests that they were non-royal, the inscription suggests they had royal acquaintance. If they were royal, then that would have been another comparison between the two statues. If they were not, then that would be a contrast between the two. The intimate nature of the statue suggests that they were married, and is also most likely why Memi’s feet are positioned together, just as Sabu’s, instead of in the more traditional masculine striding pose. These types of statues were to be a serdab, which was a hidden statue chamber often found in nonroyal tomb chapels of the Old Kingdom. It was thought that the spirits of the deceased could inhabit such statues as homes and a way to benefit from gifts of food to the chapels. However, the Statue of Gudea was not meant to be used by the deceased in the afterlife but was instead placed in temples to represent the ruler and offer constant prayer in his absence. These statues also beared inscriptions that indicated which deity the statue was dedicated to. The kingdoms subjects would also come and make offerings to the statue. The fact that they beared inscriptions was a comparison although the purpose of those inscriptions would be a contrast. Although the statues had very different purposes when they were

In this essay I will attempt to make justice to the overwhelming contrast of two sculptures, The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu and a Statue of Gudea. The latter mentioned sculpture is believed to be at least 485 years older than the first, but still, seems subsequent in evolving forms of art. Being a portrait of a character of great legacy, the Statue of Gudea does exactly what is intended even in modern times- evokes a feeling of admiration and serenity towards this leader.

The Seated Statue of Gudea shows a ruler sitting before his people. It is sculpted from

The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabuh, Menkaure, and wife will be my two sculpture I am comparing and contrasting. These two artworks both show the unity of husband and wife. The Royal Acquaintances and Menkaure and wife are both from the old kingdom. Both are standing straight forward. Both have their back against something that show a sign of relief. Both are bare foot which show a sign of royalty in Egyptian culture. Both have almond shaped eyes. Both males have a flushly chest. Both males have on an archaic skirt. Both male have toned abdominals. Both have a belly button. Both are holding some unidentified cylindrical objects. Both of their knees are over-emphasized, and the edge of the shin-bone, which is too sharp, is anatomically correct.

This statue was made between 2150-2100 B.C, representing one of the Neo-Sumerian culture’s heroes, Lagash (The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2013)). This statue was looked at very highly the citizens. It was put on a level that placed it as one between themselves and God. The level of power and royalty can be seen from his royal clothes to the way he sits and has his hands positioned to address his subjects who approach him for assistance. In the modern era of Iraq, quite a few temples in the statue of Gudea have been built by Gudea of Lagash. The staue represents the desire for their ruler to have a long life and be placed in the temples that Gudea has built.

The statue of Gudea is simple but intricate all at once. With him sitting in a seated position and folding his hands as the gesture of prayer and greeting it seems simple. When you look in more detail you notice his robe and the writting on it and see the details in the statue. Adding all of the temples that he had built or renovated.When looking at this statue it makes you feel like he understood that his subjects were also people and that he was there to listen to them and to do what he needed t take care of them.

Both works of art function as commemorative pieces. They depict actual people, not gods or mythological figures, but people who have lived, created, worked. Another commonality is the presence of hieroglyphs in both sculptures which further supports the idea that these sculptures wanted to preserve the memory of the people they depict.