EARLY DYNASTIC III, CIRCA 2550-2250 B.C.

Likely from a standing or seated votive figure, this small but well-detailed head of a worshipper has a characteristic oval face with a prominent nose, large convex lidded eyes and a faintly smiling mouth. Her abundant hair is center parted, the wavy strands finely incised, loosely pulled back over the ears and gathered into a chignon, all held in place by a smooth headband. For related female figures, compare a head in a private collection, London, no. 74 in A. Caubet, ed., Idols: The Power of Images and a figure in Damascus, no. 91a in J. Aruz, ed., Art of the First Cities.