---
title: Gypsum statue of a man
author: Trustees of the British Museum
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/530/gypsum-statue-of-a-man/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Gypsum statue of a man
_Authored by Trustees of the British Museum_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/530.jpg)
## Image Caption
Provenance unknown, [Mesopotamia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesopotamia/)[Early Dynastic](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Early_Dynastic/) III period, about 2500-2200 BC A votive offering This gypsum statute was deposited in a [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) to pray on behalf of the donor. It may have been set up in his lifetime or possibly as a memorial after his [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). He wears a fleece skirt often referred to as a kaunakes. The statue was made at a time when southern Mesopotamia was politically fragmented between [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states, competing for control of farmland, water and [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/). Where objects have not been excavated and their origin is unknown, it is often possible to date them by comparing them with dated examples. The style of votive figurines like this one can be shown to change through time. This one dates to a period known as Early Dynastic III.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Museum, T. o. t. B. (2012, April 26). Gypsum statue of a man. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Museum, Trustees of the British. "Gypsum statue of a man." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 26, 2012. .
### MLA
Museum, Trustees of the British. "Gypsum statue of a man." *World History Encyclopedia*, 26 Apr 2012, .
## License & Copyright
© Trustees of the [British Museum](http://www.britishmuseum.org/). Republished under the British Museum [Standard Terms of Use](http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_this_site/terms_of_use.aspx) for non-profit educational purposes. [Original image](http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/g/gypsum_statue_of_a_man.aspx) by [**Trustees of the British Museum**](http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/g/gypsum_statue_of_a_man.aspx). Submitted by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/ "User Page: Jan van der Crabben"), published on 26 April 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.