Yeah, it's art history "humor" ...

This will only make sense to people who are currently suffering through Art History with me. Or at least, you need to have seen the incredibly creepy votive statues from the Sumerian temple of Abu at Eshnunna, which were placed in the temple in large numbers to carry prayers to the god in their teeny little cups. I just had this mental image of the poor god being surrounded by dozens of these things, all staring up at him (they're only about two and a half feet tall) with giant puppy-dog eyes.

( Cut for image )