down to their chest, ending with a knot (Aruz 2003 : 74 , 33 ). In the lower register, the
main figure is wearing similar attire, but her headgear of brimmed cap is similar to that
of Enheduanna, and may indicates her importance as a priestess (see Figure 12. 1 this
volume for Enheduanna).
The Royal Cemetery provides the best examples of the dress of the royal court. Pu-
abi’s tomb contained not only her body and the funerary furniture, but also elaborate
costumes and jewels. The female attendants who accompanied her were similarly so
although less elaborately so. One of the intriguing finds from Pu-abi’s grave is what
looks like a cape made from around fifty strings of gold beads and semi precious stone:
carnelian, lapis lazuli and agate (Aruz 2003 : 112 , cat. no. 62 ). The cape consists of a
collar of alternate triangles of gold and lapis lazuli. The string of beads fall down to
the waist to join a belt made of ten rows of beads, again of gold, carnelian and lapis
lazuli, ending with a hem of dangling gold rings (Figure 19. 3 ). All the beads of this
elaborate cloak must have been sown to a lining of which, unfortunately, no trace
survives. The beads from this cape are now in the Pennsylvania Museum.
–– A note on Sumerian fashion ––Figure 19.3
A 2009 reconstruction of the
beaded cape and headdress of
Lady Pu-abi (burial PG 800 ,
Royal Cemetery of Ur,
southern Iraq. Courtesy of the
Penn Museum, image 184432 )