The Sumerians were the first civilisation to settle in the lands of Southern Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This area later became Babylonia and is now known as southern Iraq, stretching from Baghdad to the Persian Gulf. Sculptures of male and female worshippers modelled in various materials, are among the most representative objects that have been excavated from the Uruk civilisation (3800-3000 BC) onwards. Such stone heads and statuettes were placed in temples and dedicated to specific deities. Many statuettes of this type have been recovered with engraved cuneiform inscriptions, stating that the figure portrayed referred to the worshipper or dedicator itself, as an eternal act of devotion.
To discover more about the ancient Sumerians, please visit our relevant blog post: Ancient Sumer and its Art.
