Where: Esnunna; The Square Temple
When: c. 2900-2600 BCE
Who: The Sumerians
What: Stone (limestone, alabaster and gypsum) figurines of people.
Why: These were left in temples to represent Sumerian men and women who left prayers at the temple.
How: Artists would make these at the temple complexes for a price, most likely depending on the size, and possibly which type of stone was used.
Fun Facts:
Accurate to how the people really looked at the time; styles and dress.Writing on the back or bottom state who the statue represents and what they are praying for, although a common phrase found on them states "One who offers prayers".
Wide open eyes represent better contact with the god.
Large head and shoulders are an elaboration of where they believed the soul resides.
There would be thousands of these left in ziggurats.