Memi And Sabu Statue Analysis

This paper is going to compare two statues: statue of Memi and Sabu and a seated statue of Gudea. Both figures have been purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and are displayed there. I will start with writing about the origin and the age of both figures, and then compare materials used to create them, as well as the style and function of both of them. The first piece, The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu, originates from Egypt and it is a 4th Dynasty figure of a couple, Memi and Sabu. The figure is dated between 2575 and 2465 B.C., and it is made from a painted limestone. Apart from the standing man (Memi) and woman (Sabu), the figure also includes the inscription stating that they are the royal acquaintances. The figure is also relatively
small (h:24 7/16", w: 9 5/8", d: 6") (Metmuseum.org, n.d.).
The couple embrace each, with Sabu holding her hand around Memi's waist, and Memi holding his arm around his partner's shoulder with his palm over her breast.
This evokes intimacy, even though they both look in different directions rather than looking at each other. In Egypt, the statues were often used as home for the spirits of the deceased, allowing them to harvest all of the gifts placed for them in the tombs. This would suggest that this was the use for this figure as well, as it was found near Giza in the Western Cemetery (Metmuseum.org, n.d.). The second piece, Statue of Gudea, is a Neo-Sumerian figure originating from Mesopotamia, Girsu. The figure is dated ca. 2090 B.C. The figure is made from diorite not limestone, and is also relatively small (h: 17 3/8", w: 8 1/2", d: 11 5/8"). Both figures are similar in size, however the figure of Gudea is in a seated position, not standing like the other figure (Metmuseum.org, n.d.).
According to The Metropolitan Museum (n.d.), the figure of Gudea belongs to a series of diorite figures, which were commissioned by the king Gudea himself. He was known for rebuilding the great temple of Lagash and he also placed the statues of himself in this
temple.
Gudea was a king in southern Mesopotamia. This is another difference between his figure and the figure of Memi and Sabu, which says that they are the royal acquaintances, however lot indicates that they were not royals. The figure of Gudea is in a seated position, with his hands joined together, most likely in a gesture of greeting and prayer. He is also wearing a robe and a headpiece, which might be the crown and it seems like he is shown as he would sit in front of his subjects. The figure of Gudea also has inscriptions on it, which list many temples that he built or renovated in Lagash. The inscription also says "Gudea, the man who built the temple; may his life be long". In conclusion, both figures are definitely very ancient, originating from great civilizations like Egyptians and Mesopotamians. However, stories being making both statues are different and both have different functions. Statue of Memi and Sabu was meant to be a home for the deceased spirits and the figure of Gudea was created to remember all of his accomplishments in rebuilding the temples.