Vila Wolf's Dyslexic Folklorist Ranting

Inlay: seated male with cup and palm frond

Period: Early Dynastic III Date: ca. 2600–2350 B.C. Geography: Mesopotamia, Nippur Culture: Sumerian Medium: Shell

Bearded Figurine with Necklace

Syria, ca. 2400-2000 BC

(In the Walters Museum of Art)

Inlay depicting male torso

Period: Early Dynastic IIIa

Date: ca. 2600-2500 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Shell

Dimensions: H - 5.1 cm (2 in.)

Classification: Shell

Provenance: Acquired by the Museum in 1949, purchased from Walter A. Roselle, New York.

Votive figure

Period: Early Dynastic III

Date: ca. 2600-2350 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Stone - white

Dimensions: H - 41.3 x W - 14.5 x D - 13.5 cm (16 1/4 x 5 3/4 x 5 3/8 in.)

Classification: Stone

Provenance: Acquired by the Museum in 1950, purchased from Elias S. David, New York.

Female head

Period: Early Dynastic III

Date: ca. 2600-2350 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Gypsum, alabaster

Dimensions: 1 7/8 x 1 1/2 in. (4.8 x 3.8 cm)

Classification: Stone

Provenance: Formerly collection of Ernst Herzfeld (until d. 1948); acquired by the Museum in 1952, purchased from Mrs. Charlotte M. Bradford, sister of E. Herzfeld, Princeton, NJ.

Foundation figure of Ur-Namma holding a basket

Period: Ur III

Date: ca. 2112-2095 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia

Culture: Neo-Sumerian

Medium: Copper alloy

Dimensions: H - 27.3 cm (10 3/4 in.)

Classification: (not assigned)

Provenance: Formerly collection of Mrs. William H. Moore, New York; acquired by the Museum in 1947, gift of Mrs. William H. Moore, New York.

Fragmentary head of a worshiper

Period: Early Dynastic IIIa

Date: ca. 2600-2500 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia, Nippur

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Limestone

Dimensions: H - 6 in.

Classification: Stone

Provenance: 1960–61, excavated on behalf of the Joint Expedition to Nippur (Baghdad School of the American Schools of Oriental Research and The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago); acquired by the Museum in 1962, as a result of its financial contribution to the excavations.

Statue of Ur-Ningirsu, son of Gudea

Period: Neo-Sumerian

Date: ca. 2080 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia, probably from Girsu (modern Tell Telloh)

Culture: Neo-Sumerian

Medium: Chlorite

Dimensions: H - 55 cm (21 5/8 in.)

Classification: Stone

Provenance: 1925, purchased by Joseph Brummer from Elias S. David, London; acquired by the Museum in 1947, purchased from Joseph Brummer.

Statue of Gudea

Period: Neo-Suerian

Date: ca. 2090 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia, probably from Girsu (modern Tell Telloh)

Culture: Neo-Sumerian

Medium: Diorite

Dimensions: 17 3/8 x 8 1/2 x 11 5/8 in. (44 x 21.5 x 29.5 cm)

Classification: Stone

Description: The Akkadian Empire collapsed after two centuries of rule, and during the succeeding fifty years, local kings ruled independent city-states in southern Mesopotamia. The city-state of Lagash produced a remarkable number of statues of its kings as well as Sumerian literary hymns and prayers under the rule of Gudea (ca. 2150–2125 B.C.) and his son Ur-Ningirsu (ca. 2125–2100 B.C.). Unlike the art of the Akkadian period, which was characterized by dynamic naturalism, the works produced by this Neo-Sumerian culture are pervaded by a sense of pious reserve and serenity.

This sculpture belongs to a series of diorite statues commissioned by Gudea, who devoted his energies to rebuilding the great temples of Lagash and installing statues of himself in them. Many inscribed with his name and divine dedications survive. Here, Gudea is depicted in the seated pose of a ruler before his subjects, his hands folded in a traditional gesture of greeting and prayer. The Sumerian inscription on his robe lists the various temples that he built or renovated in Lagash and names the statue itself, “Gudea, the man who built the temple; may his life be long."

Provenance: Probably collected at Tello with other statues in 1924; 1930s, collection of Feuardent; by 1937, collection of Géjou family; by 1958, collection of Elias S. David; acquired by the Museum in 1959, purchased from Elias S. David, New York.

Cylinder seal

Period: Early Dynastic III

Date: ca. 2600-2350 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Chlorite

Dimensions: 1.25 in. (3.18 cm)

Classification: Stone

Provenance: By 1983, collection of Martin and Sarah Cherkasky, New York; acquired by the Museum in 1984, gift of Martin and Sarah Cherkasky, New York.

Cylinder seal and modern impression: seated goddess before figures carrying boxes, one placed on “altar"

Period: Early Dynastic IIIa

Date: ca. 2600-2500 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Marble

Dimensions: 0.93 in. (2.36 cm)

Classification: Stone

Provenance: By 1983, collection of Martin and Sarah Cherkasky, New York; acquired by the Museum in 1984, gift of Martin and Sarah Cherkasky, New York.

Cylinder seal and modern impression

Period: Early Dynastic IIIa

Date: ca. 2600-2500 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Lapis lazuli

Dimensions: 0.68 in. (1.73 cm)

Classification: Stone

Provenance: By 1983, collection of Martin and Sarah Cherkasky, New York; acquired by the Museum in 1984, gift of Martin and Sarah Cherkasky, New York.

Bowl

Period: Ubaid

Date: ca. 4000 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia, Eridu (modern Abu Shahrain)

Culture: Ubaid

Medium: Ceramic

Dimensions: 3.56 in. (9.04 cm)

Classification: Ceramics

Provenance: 1947-48, excavated by Sayyid Fuad Safar, on behalf of the State Organization of Antiquities and Heritage, Baghdad; acquired by the Museum in 1949, through an exchange of objects with the Iraq Museum.

Cup

Period: Ubaid

Date: mid 6th-5th millennium B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia, Eridu (modern Abu Shahrain)

Culture: Ubaid

Medium: Ceramic

Dimensions: 3.5 in. (8.89 cm)

Classification: Ceramics

Provenance: 1947-48, excavated by Sayyid Fuad Safar, on behalf of the State Organization of Antiquities and Heritage, Baghdad; acquired by the Museum in 1949, through an exchange of objects with the Iraq Museum.

Hair ribbon

Period: Early Dynastic IIIa

Date: ca. 2600-2500 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia, Ur (modern Tell al-Muqayyar)

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Gold

Dimensions: 0.31 x 11.5 in. (0.79 x 29.21 cm)

Classification: Metalwork

Provenance: 1927-1928, excavated by Sir Leonard Woolley on behalf of the Joint Expedition of the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania and the British Museum; ceded to the University Museum in the division of finds; acquired by the Museum in 1933, purchased from the University Museum.

Jar

Period: Ubaid

Date: mid 6th-5th millennium B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia, Eridu (modern Abu Shahrain)

Culture: Ubaid

Medium: Ceramic

Dimensions: 6.37 in. (16.18 cm)

Classification: Ceramics

Provenance: 1947-48, excavated by Sayyid Fuad Safar, on behalf of the State Organization of Antiquities and Heritage, Baghdad; acquired by the Museum in 1949, through an exchange of objects with the Iraq Museum.

Votive bowl

Period: Early Dynastic III

Date: ca. 2600-2350 B.C.

Geography: Mesopotamia, Nippur

Culture: Sumerian

Medium: Calcite

Dimensions: H - 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm)

Classification: Stone