Sculptpedia Statues, Busts and Sculptures Park sculptures and installations Ancient World & Antiquity Middle Ages & Renaissance Marble & Other Stones Bronze & Other Metals

Napir-Asu

Napir-Asu is a major work of Elamite art now in the Louvre in Paris. The nearly life-size statue, 1.29 m tall, was found in 1903 by Jacques de Morgan in Susa, the capital of Elam, in the temple of the Sumerian goddess Ninḫursanga. It shows the standing queen in a long, wide robe, with hands crossed over the stomach in a prayer pose. The head and most of the left arm are lost. The figure is decorated with patterned garments and arm rings, and carries an Elamite inscription with a curse against anyone who damages the statue or its text. It was cast in bronze and copper using the lost-wax process, and was likely once adorned with silver and gold leaf.

Headless statue of Napir-Asu with hands clasped at the waist and an intricately decorated long garment.
Statue of Napir-Asu, shown headless with hands clasped and a richly decorated robe.
January 2016 © · CC BY 2.0
Headless Napir-Asu statue with a decorated skirt and clasped hands
Napir-Asu, the Elamite queen statue, shown with its detailed inscribed skirt and clasped hands.
February 2013 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Headless statue of Napir-Asu with hands folded across the waist and a long patterned garment.
The headless statue of Napir-Asu shows a richly detailed long garment and folded hands.
May 2025 © · CC0
Headless stone statue of Napir-Asu with hands clasped across the midsection and a pleated long garment.
The headless stone statue of Napir-Asu, shown with clasped hands and a long pleated robe.
1900 © Geffroy, Gustave, 1855-1926 · No restrictions
Napir-Asu statue seen from the back and right side, with a long draped garment and dark patinated surface.
Napir-Asu shown from the back, with the statue’s long draped robe and dark patina visible.
June 2007 © · Public domain

Identification

TitleNapir-Asu
TypeElamite statue

Historical context

DateSecond half of the 14th century BC
Art historical significanceOne of the main works of Elamite art
Artistic contextFrom a flourishing period of Elamite bronze working

Creator

Depicted personNapir-Asu, wife of Untaš-Napiriša
Depicted person's spouseUntaš-Napiriša
Spouse's reignc. 1275–1240 BC

Discovery and provenance

Discovery placeRuins of the temple of Ninhursag in Susa, the capital of Elam
DiscovererJacques de Morgan
Find contextFound in the temple of the Sumerian/Mesopotamian goddess Ninḫursanga
Possible father of Napir-AsuProbably the Babylonian king Burna-buriaš II
Interpretive note on find contextThe statue's discovery in a temple of a Mesopotamian rather than an Elamite deity may be explained by the hypothesis that Napir-Asu's father was Burna-buriaš II
Discovery date1903

Physical characteristics

ClothingLong, wide bell-shaped garment with short sleeves; skirt wrapped around the body
DecorationUpper garment with a pattern of circles with dots resembling eyes; skirt with geometric patterns and a fringed lower part
JewelryFour bracelets on the right arm
ScaleAbout life-size
PoseStanding figure with hands crossed over the abdomen in a praying posture
ConditionHead missing; left arm mostly lost
Weight1750 kg
Height1.29 m

Materials

MaterialBronze and copper
Core materialBronze
Core composition11% tin
Outer materialCopper
Outer composition1% tin
Original surface treatmentProbably covered with gold or silver leaf/sheet

Technique

Casting techniqueLost-wax casting in a mold
Inscription techniqueInscription engraved after casting

Iconography and meaning

InscriptionElamite inscription with a curse against anyone who damages the statue or its inscription
Deities named in inscriptionNapiriša, Kiriša, Inšušinak, and Beltiya ('my lady')

Location and ownership

Current locationLouvre, Paris