Babylon

Answer 1

Molded plaque: king or a god carrying a mace
Title: Molded plaque: king or a god carrying a mace
Period: Isin-Larsa–early Old Babylonian
Date: ca. 2000–1700 BCE
Geography: Southern Mesopotamia
Culture: Isin-Larsa–Old Babylonian
Medium: Ceramic
Ceramic plaques like this were mass-produced from molds and widely available to the public.
They were found in both temples and household shrines.
The plaques depicted various themes, including religious images, mythology, erotic scenes, and rulers and gods.
This particular plaque shows a figure carrying a mace or scepter, wearing a short kilt and round headdress, typical of an Old Babylonian/Isin-Larsa ruler.
The figure’s erect and commanding posture resembles that of Mesopotamian rulers from the Akkadian period on monumental reliefs.
The mace is often interpreted as a symbol of authority granted by a higher power.
Similar figures on cylinder seals often appear facing a goddess who intercedes with the gods on behalf of the seal owner.
Although some scholars suggest the figure might be a god, it is more likely to represent a king in warrior dress.