Memi And Sabu Essay

433 Words1 Page

While there are certainly similarities between different works of art produced during a given period in complementary mediums, design element choices (whether chosen by the artist, tradition, or the subject) can create images with vastly different messages.
The Royal Acquaintances of Memi and Sabu is a limestone sculpture from the fourth dynasty period (2575 – 2465 B.C.) in Egypt which depicts a man and woman, most likely a husband and wife. The pose of Memi and Sabu sharing an embrace creates a sense of intimacy, relaxation and familiarity between the two people.
Since sculpture in the Old Kingdom were indicative of social status, it is unlikely this statue was created for someone wealthy. The stature is made of limestone, a very common material, and is fairly small at just over 24” high. As with other pieces of Egyptian art, this sculpture features clearly defined and …show more content…

This stillness creates a peace and serenity, much like what is observed in the Neo-Sumerian Statue of Gudea. This diorite sculpture produced in Mesopotamia from 2090 B.C. is also similar in size to the statue of Memi and Sabu at 17 3/8” tall, and his pose (seated, hands folded) was a traditional posture for greeting and prayer. The statue of Gudea features the same attention to detail, from the beading on the head dress to the folds of his robes, it lacks the sense of proportion found in the Egyptian piece. The head is too large, or the body to small. While the inscription found on the statue of Memi and Sabu simply states who they are, the inscription on the statue of Gueda reads much more formally “Gudea, the man who built the temple; may his life be long.” The status of Gudea was one of approximately 27 works of the ruler which were all crafted from diorite, selected for its kingly associations and Gudea’s desire the works would

Open Document