Female Head from a Votive Statuette

Head broken off at neck. The hair, falling in triple strands on the forehead and sides, is arranged to form a circular roll around the top of the head to the back. The eyes are hollowed for inlay. Nose and chin are damaged and overall there are surface abrasions. The head is probably from a votive statue, similar to those found as part of the sculpture hoard from the Abu-Temple at Tell Asmar, and is likely to have performed a similar function. Votive statues varied in size and shape and were placed in temples, buried under the floor or built into the shrine. The figures, often shown making a gesture of prayer, were intended to represent the worshipper before the god.