Lama Deity

Mesopotamian lama deities were kind, protective spirits associated with the great sun god Shamash. This deity is depicted with a sensitive face, luxurious beard, and flowing locks of hair, and he wears a horned crown. The body is that of a reclining bull.

Representations of bulls with human heads are found throughout the art of Mesopotamia. In an inscription, an Assyrian king called upon lama deities to "turn back an evil person, guard the steps, and secure the path of the king who fashioned them." Several statuettes, about 4,000 years old, have survived. They come from various Sumerian sites and Syria.

This example is made from serpentine, a smooth green stone the color of life-giving water in a desert area. The hollowed-out shapes on the body originally were inlaid with pearly shell or lapis lazuli.