Statuette of King Ur-Nammu

2100 BC - 2000 BC
Bronze/Copper
Nippur
33.7 cm x 13.3 cm x 7.5 cm
A30553

Oriental Institute Museum

Artifact Description

Statuette of King Ur-Nammu

This is a bronze/copper statuette of King Ur-Nammu, who rebuilt and enlarged the temple (E-Kur) of Enlil, chief god of the pantheon. The statuette was placed in a box and buried beneath the foundation of the temple, together with small pieces of gold, carnelian, and lapis lazuli. The king is depicted here at the start of the building project. The basket that he carries on his head contains the clay from which the first brick would be made.

Collected by

Nippur Expedition
Excavated by The Oriental Institute 1955-1956

Multimedia

How Do We Care for Ancient Artifacts?
How do artifacts survive over time? Oriental Institute Museum conservator Laura D'Alessandro tells us how they are cared for in this video.

Life in Ancient Mesopotamia
What was life like in ancient Mesopotamia? Find out in this video featuring Oriental Institute Assyriologist Dr. Martha Roth.

Web Links

Highlights from the collection of the Oriental Institute Museum; Statuette

Suggested Readings

Hunter, Erica. First Civilizations: Cultural Atlas for Young People. New York: Facts on File, 1994.

Kramer, Samuel Noah. Cradle of Civilization. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1967.

Roaf, Michael. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. New York: Facts on File, 1990.

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