Statuette
Gypsum
2500 BC

The temples in the city-state of Mari on the Euphrates have yielded numerous statuettes of men and women who had themselves represented with their hands clasped to their bosoms in an attitude of prayer. These small statues were placed inside the temples on benches near the bottom of the walls. They were intended as tokens of the great devotion offered to the divinity by the people who had their likenesses made. These people were members of the administration — superintendents, officers, surveyors, scribes and cup-bearers — as well as temple workers and wealthy members of society, such as merchants. When a temple began to be crowded with these effigies of worshippers, they were placed in sacred pits — favissae — which were dug under the floor of the temple itself.

Tell Hariri, ancient Mari: Temple of Ninni-zaza
53 x 18 x 21 cm
National Museum, Damascus
M2076 (M2369)
L’Eufrate 240

_{© Musée de la civilisation, 1999}