Statue of Ebih-Il

The Statue 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 of Mari in modern eastern Syria. The statue was discovered at the Temple of Ishtar in Mari during excavations directed by French archaeologist André Parrot. It is made of gypsum, with inlays of schist, shells and lapis lazuli. Claire Iselin of the Musée du Louvre, where the statue is displayed, describes it as "a masterpiece by virtue of its craftsmanship, state of preservation, and expressive style."[3]

Statue of Ebih-Il
Statue of Ebih-Il, superintendent of Mari
MaterialGypsum, schist, shells, lapis lazuli
Height52.5 centimetres (20.7 in)
Width20.6 centimetres (8.1 in)
Depth30 centimetres (12 in)
Createdc. 2400 BC
Period/cultureSumerian
Discovered1934
PlaceTemple of Ishtar, Mari, Syria
Present locationMusée du Louvre, Paris
IdentificationAO 17551
The Statue of Ebih-Il was discovered in Mari, modern Syria

Overview

The statue, made of translucent smooth alabaster, depicts the figure of a man seated on a wicker hassock. The man 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 holes drilled, and was 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 attention to detail. A combination of schist, shells and lapis lazuli was used to depict the eyelashes and eyelids, cornea and iris, respectively.[4] The lapis lazuli inlays used were imported from as far east as Afghanistan.[3]

The figure has a bare torso and a thin waist. The hands are clasped against the chest, and the left hand is closed and placed inside the right hand.[4] The figure's only dress is the Sumerian-style ceremonial kaunakes skirt. The elaborate fleece skirt appears to be made from animal hide (probably, sheepskin or goatskin) 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 in proto-cuneiform signs on the rear, which identifies the work, reads: "Statue of Ebih-Il, the superintendent, dedicated to Ishtar 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"

— Inscription on the statue of Ebib-Il.[7][8]

Excavation

The statue was discovered in two parts by the French excavation team under André Parrot.[9] The head was found on the pavement of the outer court of the Temple of Ishtar.[4] The body, along with the smaller statue of King Lamgi-Mari, was found a few meters away.[9] When the statue was found, the left arm and elbow were broken, and the base of the right elbow was shattered.[4] The statues were the first major discovery in the excavations, started in winter 1933, at the site of Mari.[10] The statue of Ebih-Il was discovered on 22 January 1934 (for the head), and 23 January 1934 (for the body).[11]

  • Excavation of the head of Ebih-Il (22 January 1934)
  • Head of Ebih-Il (discovery, 22 January 1934)
  • Body of Ebih-Il (discovery, 23 January 1934)
  • Head of Ebih-Il upon discovery
  • Head of Ebih-Il upon discovery (profile)

Details of the statue
  • Ebih-Il in the Louvre, AO17551
  • The figure's facial expressions. The figure's hands are clasped in prayer
  • A profile of the statue showing the seated posture and the kaunakes skirt
  • A closeup of the finely crafted eyes
  • Dedication of the statue in Proto-cuneiform script: "Ebih-Il, nu-banda (𒉡𒌉, nu-banda, "overseer"),[12] offered his statue to Ishtar Virile"
  • The name "Ebih-Il" (𒂗𒋾𒅋, EN-TI-IL)[13] on the statue, with the corresponding standard Sumero-Akkadian cuneiforms.[1]
  • A closeup showing the details of the wicker seat

See also
Mari

Euphrates • Terqa • Tuttul
Royal Palace
Kings
Yaggid-Lim • Yahdun-Lim
Yasmah-Adad
Zimri-Lim (Queen Shibtu)
Archaeology
Investiture of Zimri-Lim
Statue of Ebih-Il
Statue of Iddi-Ilum

References

Citations
  1. "Sumerian Dictionary". oracc.iaas.upenn.edu.
  2. THUREAU-DANGIN, F. (1934). "Inscriptions Votives Sur des Statuettes de Maʾeri". Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale. 31 (3): 143. ISSN 0373-6032. JSTOR 23297288.
  3. Iselin, Claire. "Ebih-Il, the Superintendent of Mari". Musée du Louvre. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  4. Parrot, 1935, p. 26.
  5. The first character is 𒊨 dul3 for "statue" ("plaster") in "Statue inscription of Ebil-Il"., previously given as 𒊕 şalam by Spycket. A related reference: Lecompte, Camille (2014). Le sanctuaire du "Seigneur du pays". Cahier des Thèmes transversaux.
  6. Written 𒊕𒄸𒁺 sa12rig9 "to donate a statue", rather than the later (Babylonian) 𒅖𒊒𒊌 išruk "to donate". For reference: "Statue inscription of Ebil-Il"., "Statue of Ikun-Shamash". CDLI.
  7. Spycket, Agnès (1968). Les Statues de culte dans les textes mésopotamiens: des origines à la Ire. dynastie de Babylone (in French). J. Gabalda et Cie. p. 36.
  8. "Statue inscription of Ebil-Il".
  9. Cluzan; Lecompte, 2011, p. 5.
  10. Parrot, 1935, p. 1.
  11. "Voués à Ishtar. Syrie, janvier 1934: André Parrot découvre Mari" (PDF).
  12. "Sumerian Dictionary". oracc.iaas.upenn.edu.
  13. THUREAU-DANGIN, F. (1934). "Inscriptions Votives Sur des Statuettes de Maʾeri". Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale. 31 (3): 143. ISSN 0373-6032. JSTOR 23297288.

Bibliography
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