316 - Seated figure of a high priestess, Enheduanna, Neo-Sumerian Culture, Mesopotamia, 3rd Dynasty of Ur (2112–2004 BC)

Seated figure of a high priestess, Enheduanna, Neo-Sumerian Culture, Mesopotamia, 3rd Dynasty of Ur (2112–2004 BC) Carved stone sculpture with a greenish hue and natural inclusions. Dimensions: 13.9 cm high. Weight: 1,163.1 g. An important Mesopotamian sculptural figure depicting a religious dignitary seated on a throne, following the ceremonial representation models developed in the Sumerian world. The figure is depicted in a frontal, compact composition, with her hands clasped at chest level in an attitude of prayer or contemplation, holding two small, rectangular objects that could be interpreted as tablets. She wears a long, richly pleated priestly robe, decorated with deep, parallel incisions that create an elaborate effect of texture and volume, leaving only her feet visible. The face, with a serene and solemn expression, features almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and full lips, framed by carefully styled hair and a characteristic flat headdress with a circular profile. The meticulousness of the sculptural work is remarkable, especially in the rendering of the garments, the symmetrical arrangement of the arms, and the definition of the facial features. On the back of the seat, ornamental reliefs have been interpreted as two facing water birds, possibly related to the religious symbolism of the period. The representation is iconographically linked to Enheduanna, daughter of the Akkadian king Sargon of Akkad (c. 2334–2279 BCE), who served as high priestess of the moon god Nanna in the city of Ur and is considered one of the earliest known female authors in history for her religious compositions dedicated to the goddess Inanna. Her figure took on particular significance in Mesopotamian tradition as a symbol of spiritual authority and political legitimacy. The formal design of the sculpture shows parallels with small seated female figures from the Akkadian and Neo-Sumerian periods, especially with examples held in the Vorderasiatisches Museum in ...