ART WIKI
Statue of Gudea, c. 2144–2124 BCE

Statue of Gudea

c. 2144–2124 BCE · Sculpture

Can I see it?

Yes, on view now

Where is “Statue of Gudea” now? The Cleveland Museum of Art, 100 1916 Lobby, Cleveland. Yes, on view now. Checked September 29, 2026.

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Room100 1916 Lobby

On public display.

Checked
In this state since
Source
The museum
On the mapMuseum page

About the sculpture

This headless figure’s clasped hands create a distinctive gesture that recurs frequently on more than 30 recorded statues of the Mesopotamian ruler Gudea. Between c. 2144–2124 BCE, Gudea ruled as ensi (governor) of the city-state of Lagash, located in modern-day Iraq. Scholars have identified more than 2,400 inscriptions that describe his reign, which included patronage of the arts and an extensive building program. Statues like this one would have been placed in temples as stand-ins for Gudea himself, demonstrating his devotion and piety.

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Details

Accession number
1963.154

In the catalog

SculptureBefore 1400Mesopotamia, Neo-Sumerian, Iraq, Girsu

Sources

In the same room · 100 1916 Lobby, The Cleveland Museum of Art

Museum page
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