Presumed Head of Hammurabi
Name/Title
Presumed Head of HammurabiEntry/Object ID
18NE13229Description
Presumed head of Hammurabi in painted plaster. Babylonian sculpture in the round. The bust of a man includes a headdress and a longer, curled beard.Type of Sculpture
BustArtwork Details
Medium
PlasterContext
This presumed portrait head of the Babylonian king Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE) was discovered in Susa, Iran (modern-day Shush). The type of headdress and the artistic style in which the hair and beard are carved allows art historians to date this statue to the era of Hammurabi or just prior. Despite the naturalistic expression and aged facial features, it is difficult to pinpoint the identity of the figure. Hammurabi’s fame is due in large part to his detailed law code, which predates Biblical law, and he is recognized for ushering in the beginning of Babylon’s political rule over southern Mesopotamia.Made/Created
Date made
2000 BCE - 1001 BCETime Period
Bronze Age, Iron AgeEthnography
Culture/Tribe
Near Eastern - Babylonian