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Uruk (Early Sumerian II period) : Alabaster vase found in E-anna precinct, treasure-house of level IIIa & II

Date

Authors

Strommenger, Eva
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

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Abstract

Description

The produce of the fields and the increase of the herds, symbolically represented in bottom row, are presented at a religious festival to the deity under whose aegis they will be stored in the temple precinct. The deity in question is again Innin (Inanna). Whether the female figure is her or her sacerdotal representative is uncertain, as we do not yet know if deities were depicted anthropomorphically in Early Sumerian times - and if they were, how they were represented. A crown with bulls' horns, later the characteristic of divinity, is first documented in early dynastic times. Headdress damaged so can't be recognised here. What is left of procession leader identifies him as "man in net-skirt". A little servant carries his broad belt like a train. Numerous vessels including two big jars full of produce & zoomorphic vases are in treasure-house. Two Dinka sheep carry podia with statues (?) on their backs, statue on left with EN (Lord) on both hands
the one on right folds its hands in prayer. -- originally c. 1.05 m high (Iraq Museum, Baghdad).

Citation

Source

Type

Archives Series

Date created

1964

Access Statement

License Rights

This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.

DOI

Restricted until

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