This gypsum statuette from the Early Dynastic Period

This gypsum statuette from the Early Dynastic Period (around 2500 BCE) depicts a seated couple tenderly embracing, a rare and expressive portrayal of affection in ancient Mesopotamian art.

Discovered at the temple of Inanna in Nippur—a major religious center dedicated to the goddess of love, fertility, and warfare—the sculpture offers valuable insight into early Sumerian ideals of companionship and social identity.

The figures sit closely side by side, their arms intertwined in a gesture that conveys unity and emotional connection. Carved with large, inlaid eyes and simplified forms typical of the period, the statuette reflects both devotional intent and artistic style.

Today, this remarkable piece is preserved and displayed in the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, where it stands as an important testament to early Mesopotamian craftsmanship and cultural expression.