Statue of Ebih-Il Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Statue of Ebih-Il
Statue of Ebih-Il, superintendent of Mari
Material	Alabaster, shells, lapis lazuli, bitumen
Height	52.5 centimetres (20.7 in)
Width	20.6 centimetres (8.1 in)
Depth	30 centimetres (12 in)
Created	c. 2400 BC
Period/culture	Sumerian
Discovered	1934
Place	Temple of Ishtar, Mari, Syria
Present location	Musée du Louvre, Paris Heilongjiang Art Museum, Harbin (downsized replica)
Identification	AO 17551
Mari Location in Near East

The Statue of Ebih-Il is a very old statue, made about 4,500 years ago! It shows a man named Ebih-Il (which means "my god is good"). He was an important leader, a "superintendent," in the ancient city of Mari. Mari was a powerful city-state in what is now eastern Syria.

Archaeologists found this statue in 1934 at the Temple of Ishtar in Mari. A French team led by André Parrot made this amazing discovery. The statue is crafted from gypsum, a soft stone, and decorated with shiny schist, shells, and bright blue lapis lazuli. Today, you can see this incredible artwork at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. Many people think it's a true masterpiece because of how well it was made and how good it still looks.

What the Statue Looks Like
How the Statue Was Found
More Details of the Statue
See also

What the Statue Looks Like

This statue is carved from smooth, see-through alabaster stone. It shows a man sitting on a wicker stool. His hands are pressed together against his chest, like he is praying or showing respect to a god.

The Face and Eyes

The man's head is shaved, but he has a long beard made of curly lines. There are tiny holes in his beard where other materials might have been placed long ago, but they are now gone. His beard makes his cheeks and lips stand out. He has a small, gentle smile.

His blue eyes are very special and detailed. They are made from different materials:

Dark schist forms the eyelashes and eyelids.
White shells create the white part of his eyes (the cornea).
Bright blue lapis lazuli makes up the colored part of his eyes (the iris).

The lapis lazuli stone came from far away, possibly even from Afghanistan!

The Body and Clothing

The statue shows the man's bare chest and a thin waist. His hands are clasped together, with his left hand resting inside his right.

He wears a special skirt called a kaunakes skirt. This type of skirt was popular in ancient Sumer. It looks like it's made from animal hide, probably sheepskin or goatskin, because it even has a small tail at the back! The statue's feet are missing, but you can still see where they would have been attached under his skirt.

The Secret Message

On the back of the statue, there's a message written in an ancient script called proto-cuneiform. This writing tells us who the statue is of and why it was made. It says: "Statue of Ebih-Il, the superintendent, dedicated to Ishtar Virile." This means Ebih-Il gave this statue as a gift to the goddess Ishtar.

dul, Ebih-il, nu-banda, ^dIštar Nita, sarig
"This statue, Ebih-il, the overseer, to Ishtar (?), he dedicated"

—Inscription on the statue of Ebib-Il.

How the Statue Was Found

A French team of archaeologists, led by André Parrot, found the statue in two main pieces.

The head was discovered first, on January 22, 1934, lying on the floor of the Temple of Ishtar's outer courtyard.
The very next day, January 23, 1934, the rest of the body was found just a few meters away.

They also found a smaller statue of King Lamgi-Mari nearby.

When it was found, the statue had some damage. The left arm and elbow were broken, and the base of the right elbow was shattered. These statues were the first big discoveries made during the Mari excavations, which had just started in the winter of 1933.

Archaeologists carefully digging up the head of Ebih-Il on January 22, 1934.
The head of Ebih-Il right after it was found on January 22, 1934.
The body of Ebih-Il being uncovered on January 23, 1934.
A close-up of the head of Ebih-Il when it was first discovered.
A side view of the head of Ebih-Il right after its discovery.

More Details of the Statue

The Statue of Ebih-Il on display at the Louvre Museum.
A closer look at the statue's face and hands, showing its peaceful expression and praying pose.
A side view of the statue, showing how the figure sits and the details of the kaunakes skirt.
A very close view of the statue's eyes, highlighting the different materials used to create them.
The special message carved on the statue, written in an ancient script called Proto-cuneiform. It says "Ebih-Il, overseer, offered his statue to Ishtar Virile."
This image shows the name "Ebih-Il" written in ancient cuneiform symbols, just like on the statue.
A detailed view of the wicker seat the figure is sitting on.

Statue of Ebih-Il facts for kids

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