A statue, meaning a sculpture of a person (sometimes more than one) at least close to life-size, is a very ancient form of art. The most common examples include works of Phidias and similar artists in Greece, but statues were also a prominent feature of Egyptian, Chinese, and Nepalese cultures among others. Their function was both decorative and representative, often presenting important individuals or events. Needless to say, such works were also important in places of worship, often acting as a direct representation of a deity and considered sacred. It was no coincidence that the Israelis shunned statues of their god Jahweh, since it was an important distinction between their own religious customs and their neighbors'.