This finely carved cylinder seal shows a human figure, often identified as a "hero" in ancient Near Eastern art, grasping two ostriches by the neck. The hero has a beard and wears a long robe open in the front. A winged disk is placed above the wings of the ostriches, while between the legs of one ostrich is an almond shaped motif. The design of this seal recalls a typical style seen on seals from northern Mesopotamia.
The hero, often called the master of the animals, has a long history in Mesopotamia and is commonly represented in ancient Near Eastern art. The ostrich can be seen represented in Mesopotamian art after 1300 BCE. Neo-Assyrian royal annals at this time recount the capture and death of ostriches during hunts that involved the participation of bowmen riding on camels or horses. These animals, renowned for their speed, were primarily valued for their plumage, especially the tail feathers, and for their eggs. Ostrich eggs were appreciated as food for gods and kings, and as containers when emptied.

References:

Collon, Dominique. 2005. First impressions: cylinder seals in the ancient Near East. London: British Museum Press.

Osten, Hans Henning von der. 1934. Ancient Oriental Seals on the Collection of Mr. Edward T. Newell. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.