Local authority denies social media rumors
Gudea statue reinstated in Dhi Qar after restoration work
DHI QAR — The Al-Dawaya Municipal Directorate confirmed on Tuesday the successful reinstallation of the statue of Ensi Gudea, the ruler of the ancient Sumerian city-state of Lagash, in the city center following an expedited restoration process.
The restoration was carried out by sculptor Ahmed Hassan, who offered his services free of charge.
Ensi Gudea, who governed Lagash from approximately 2144 to 2124 BCE during the Sumerian Renaissance—a period marked by a cultural revival following the decline of the Akkadian Empire—is renowned for his contributions to the arts and architecture.
Fakhri Hashim, Director of Al-Dawaya Municipality, provided an update to 964media: “The restoration and maintenance of the King Gudea statue in Al-Dawaya were completed today, Tuesday, after six days of continuous work by sculptor Ahmed Hassan. All the Sumerian inscriptions have been restored, and the statue has been returned to its previous state in Gudea Circle in central Al-Dawaya.”
The municipality has emphasized that the restoration is part of its ongoing initiatives to preserve Sumerian heritage, with the statue of Gudea playing a central role in these efforts.
Earlier, the Al-Dawaya Municipal Directorate had addressed and denied rumors circulating on social media that the statue’s removal was influenced by religious concerns over depictions that could lead to idol worship.
Islamic traditions generally discourage the depiction of human figures to avoid idolatry, a principle that has historically influenced the handling of pre-Islamic artifacts in the region.
The directorate insists the statue was removed solely for maintenance and has now been restored to its original location.
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