Comparison of Statue Memi and Sabu and the Statue of Gudea

According to Oxford Dictionary (2013) a sculpture is defined as the art of making two- or three-dimensional representative or abstract forms, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster.  Sculptures help to tell the history of how people thought and the practices they conducted. This way of expressing oneself was more important in ancient times as oppose to recent times where we have the benefit of writing books, blogs and much more are readily available.  This essay will seek to compare two sculptures of ancient times, the Egyptian statue of Memi and Sabu and the statue of Gudea from the Neo –Sumerian culture.²

The Egyptian statue of Memi and Sabu was dated back to the Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, ca. 2575–2465 B.C. It is a statue that was painted with limestone and represents a non- royal couple; however the inscription on the statue suggests they had royal acquaintance. Their  status are further confirmed  by the way in which the  couple are dressed in common clothes and  the fact  they are not standing or sitting  in any position of royalty like the statue of Gudea (The Metropolitan  Museum of  Art (2013)).

 In addition the statue of Memi and Sabu represents husband and wife based on other statues of similar nature. The fact that they are husband and wife is supported by the fact that the Memi the husband gives Sabu the wife a warm embrace.  This show of intimacy probably explains why Memo stands with his feet together instead of the masculine striding pose where the left leg is slightly advanced. Also Memi is almost a head taller than Sabu and the body of Memi is slightly more protruded than body of Sabu.This statue was buried with non- royal dead in a hidden chamber so that the spirit would have somewhere to benefit from food and gifts brought to them.³

The statue of Gudea, on the other hand is a statue that was made beween, 2150–2100 B.C, in the Neo-Sumerian culture. Unlike the statue of Memi and Sabu that represented non royals, the statue of Gudea represented one of the heroes of the Neo –Sumerian culture, Gudea of Lagash (The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2013)).The citizens considered him to be an intermediary between themselves and God. Gudea is shown to wear royal garb and is seated with his hands in the position of piety and readiness to greet his subjects.  In addition feet are not touching the ground symbolizing a man of great power and respect.¹

 Gudea of Lagash is known to have built many temples in modern day Iraq In the statue of Gudea,. This statue was not buried with the dead like the statue of Memi and Sabu, instead the statue of Gudea was made to symbolize the wish that their ruler may live long and to place the statues in the temples Gudea built.⁴

Both of these sculptures achieved their intended purpose and were able to tell the history of ancient times. The statue of Memi  and Sabu  depicted a  loving   couple  but still emphasized  the masculinity of Memi while  the statue of Gudea,  reinforced the  idea of piety and power.

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References

1.       Krishman, A (2011) Art history, Seated  statue of Gudea (2 -16) Retrieved from http://apah2011.wikispaces.com/Seated+statue+of+Gudea+(2-16)

2.       OxfordDictionaries (2013) Sculpture Rerieved from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sculpture?q=sculpture

3.       OnlineEssays.com Egyptian Art Statue from Metropolitan Museum Retrieved from http://onlineessays.com/essays/arts/art028.php

4.       The Metropolitan  Museum of  Art (2013) Heibrunn timeline of Art History, Statue  of Gudea Retrieved  from  http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/59.2

The Metropolitan  Museum of  Art (2013) Heibrunn timeline of Art History, Statue of Memi and Sabu Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/48.111