Hair Comb

B16693

Location: On Display in the Middle East Galleries

From: Iraq | Ur

Curatorial Section: Near Eastern

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Object Number B16693
Current Location Middle East Galleries - On Display
Provenience Iraq | Ur
Archaeology Area PG 800
Period Early Dynastic III
Date Made 2600-2450 BCE
Section Near Eastern
Materials Lapis Lazuli | Gold
Description

Shubad, now Puabi.

CBS Register: gold comb of Queen Shubad and 7 gold flowers.

Broad hair comb of solid gold found behind the skull of Queen Puabi in grave 800 in the Royal Cemetery at Ur. This would originally have been fastened in amongst the hair at the back of the head to stabilize a large coiffure. The seven gold flowers that spring from it would have jutted above the hair-do to form a dazzling display. Each of the gold flowers has eight petals and a lapis center that is then topped by a gold disk.

The two cuneiform signs that compose her name were initially read as "Shub-ad" in Sumerian. Today, however, we think they should be read in Akkadian as "Pu-abi."

Height 30.6 cm
Width 27.8 cm
Depth 11.7 cm
Credit Line British Museum/University Museum Expedition to Ur, Iraq, 1928
Other Number U.10937 - Field No SF

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