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