"Foundation Nail" of Gudea
Unknown Artist
c. 2100 BCE
Medium
copper alloy, lost-wax cast
Dimensions
17.5 × 4.5 × 7.3 cm · with base: 20.9 × 6.3 × 9.1 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1990.31
About this artwork
The ruler Gudea placed one of these special nails in every temple he built in order to commemorate it.