Suffering Man Statue

The Suffering Man Statue is an ancient statue made of sandstone, bearing the features of sadness in sunken eyes, with a hand clenched over the heart. It was discovered through archaeological surveys and examinations in the village of al-Khafa, located two hundred kilometers south of the city of Hail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The statue was estimated to be six thousand years old, dating back to the end of the Neolithic era.

The Suffering Man statue is considered a rare artistic masterpiece due to its intricate expressions. It is one of the most famous archaeological pieces in Saudi Arabia, and it has been the subject of several specialized international studies and research on antiquities.

The sandstone statue of the Suffering Man embodies multiple meanings. The sadness is depicted through his sunken eyes and frail body. The suffering is represented by his hand reaching toward his heart and his mocking grin with ear-like handles. The finely engraved lines around the collarbones, hands, and arms showcase the sculptor's creativity in capturing emotions.

The Suffering Man Statue reveals the depth of the civilization in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia. It is considered a global artifact that showcases Saudi Arabia's historical heritage. It was exhibited in the "Trade Routes in Arabia Peninsula - Masterpieces of the Kingdom's Antiquities through the Ages" exhibition at the National Roman Museum in Rome, Italy. The statue captivated visitors of the international exhibition due to its artistic beauty, as well as its historical significance and the quality of its sculpture.

When the Suffering Man Statue is on tour, it is protected by international conventions including insurance and a personal escort from its country of origin.

The "Trade Routes in the Arabian Peninsula - Masterpieces of the Kingdom's Antiquities through the Ages" exhibition showcased 466 artifacts representing social, cultural, and economic life in Saudi Arabia since its foundation. Additionally, it displayed heritage artifacts dating back to the nineteenth century, discovered through national and international excavations led by Saudi archaeologists. The exhibited items spanned multiple historical periods, including the Stone Age, the al-Ubaid period, the Dilmun era, the early Arab kingdoms, the intermediate and late Arab kingdoms, the Prophet's era, the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, the intermediate and late Islamic periods, the Saudi Renaissance era, and culminating in the period of the Kingdom's unification.