The Statue of Ebih-Il was discovered inMari, modernSyria
TheStatue of Ebih-Il is a 25th-century BC statue of the praying figure of Ebih-Il (𒂗𒋾𒅋,EN-TI-IL,e-bih-il),[1][2] superintendent of the ancient city-state ofMari in modern easternSyria. The statue was discovered at the Temple ofIshtar in Mari during excavations directed byFrench archaeologistAndré Parrot. It is made ofgypsum, with inlays ofschist,shells andlapis lazuli. The statue is displayed in theMusée du Louvre. It has been described as "a masterpiece by virtue of its craftsmanship, state of preservation, and expressive style."[3]
The statue, made of translucent smoothalabaster, depicts the figure of a man seated on awickerhassock. He is shown in a praying posture with hands clasped against his chest conveying his devotion to the deity.[3]
The man's head is shaved. His long beard is composed of vertical curls and has drilled holes drilled formerly inlaid with another, now-lost material.[3] The beard accentuates the figure's cheeks and finely sculpted lips that convey a half-smile. The figure's staring blue eyes were crafted with particular care and detail. Flakes ofschist,shells andlapis lazuli form theeyelashes andeyelids,cornea andiris, respectively.[4] The lapis lazuli inlays were imported from as far east asAfghanistan.[3]
The figure has a bare torso and thin waist. The hands are clasped against the chest, with the left hand closed and placed inside the right hand.[4] The figure's only dress is theSumerian-style ceremonialkaunakes skirt. This elaborate fleece skirt appears to be made fromanimal hide (probablysheepskin orgoatskin) as evidenced by the presence of a tail at the back.[3] The figure's feet are missing but their attachment piece is still showing under the dress.[4]
The inscription inproto-cuneiform signs on the rear, which identifies the work, reads: "Statue of Ebih-Il, the superintendent, dedicated toIshtar Virile."[3]
𒊨 𒂗𒋾𒅋 𒉡𒌉 𒀭𒈹𒍑 𒊕𒄸𒁺[5] dul, Ebih-il, nu-banda,dIštar Nita, sarig[6] "This statue, Ebih-il, the overseer, to Ishtar (?), he dedicated"
The statue was discovered in two parts by a French excavation team underAndré Parrot.[9] The head was found on the pavement of the outer court of the Temple of Ishtar,[4] and a few meters away the body along with a smaller statue of KingLamgi-Mari.[9] The left arm and elbow were broken, and the base of the right elbow was shattered.[4] The statues were the first major discovery of the Mari excavations started winter 1933,[10] the head found 22 January 1934, the body 23 January 1934.[11]
Excavation of the head of Ebih-Il (22 January 1934)
^THUREAU-DANGIN, F. (1934). "Inscriptions Votives Sur des Statuettes de Maʾeri".Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale.31 (3): 143.ISSN0373-6032.JSTOR23297288.
^THUREAU-DANGIN, F. (1934). "Inscriptions Votives Sur des Statuettes de Maʾeri".Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale.31 (3): 143.ISSN0373-6032.JSTOR23297288.
Cluzan, Sophie; Lecompte, Camille;Musée du Louvre. Département des antiquités orientales (2011).Ebih-Il (in French). Paris: Louvre éditions.ISBN9782757205099.
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![Dedication of the statue in Proto-cuneiform script: "Ebih-Il, nu-banda (𒉡𒌉, nu-banda, "overseer"),[12] offered his statue to Ishtar Virile"](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aEbih-Il_Louvre_AO17551_n07.jpg)
![The name "Ebih-Il" (𒂗𒋾𒅋, EN-TI-IL)[13] on the statue, with the corresponding standard Sumero-Akkadian cuneiforms.[1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aEbih-Il_(name).jpg)
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