Photos of the Ancient Mari Statues & Statue of Ebih-Il

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Photos of Ancient Mesopotamia Mari Statues Including Beautiful Mari Statue of Ebih-Il. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of Ancient Mari Statues & Statue of Ebih-Il

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Photos of Ancient Mari statue Museum antiquities.

Mari was an ancient Semitic city-state in modern-day Syria. Its remains constitute a tell located 11 kilometers north-west of Abu Kamal on the Euphrates river western bank, some 120 kilometers southeast of Deir ez-Zor. It flourished as a trade center and hegemonic state between 2900 BC and 1759 BC.

Ancient Mari Ebih-Il Statue

The Ebih-Il statue is a 25th-century BC statue of the praying figure of Ebih-Il 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, described it as “a masterpiece by virtue of its craftsmanship, state of preservation, and expressive style”. 

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. 

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. 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.The lapis lazuli inlays used were imported from as far east as Afghanistan.The figure has a bare torso and a thin waist. 

The hands are clasped against the chest.The figure’s only dress is the Sumerian-style ceremonial kaunakes skirt. The elaborate fleece skirt appears to be made from animal hide.