Ancient Near East Seal Collection

Stamp seal

  • Stamp seal
  • Stamp seal
  • Stamp seal
  • Stamp seal
  View right to left
Historical period(s)
Sasanian period, 224 - 651
Medium
Chalcedony
Dimension(s)
H x W: 1.7 x 1.9 cm (11/16 x 3/4 in)
Origin
Iran
Credit Line
Gift of the Duncan M. Whittome Revocable Trust in memory of Ambassador and Mrs. James S. Moose, Jr.
Accession Number
F1993.18.32
Keyword(s)
chalcedony, dome-shaped seal, head, horse, Iran, Sasanian Pahlavi script, Sasanian period (ca. 224 - 651), stamp seal, triskelions
Label

Inscribed on this ellipsoid stamp seal is a triskele horse head, with streamers and star motifs. The heads are represented in a clockwise orientation. Between each are inscriptions in Pahlavi.

Inscription: d't sm'nk m'hy kwstgmt / dād smānag māh kustag mt
Translation: Dād Smānag, Canton of Media, mt?

Translation provided by Touraj Daryaee and Kiarash Gholami

References:

Christopher J. Brunner. 1978. Sasanian Stamp Seals in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Gyselen, Rika. 2006. Sasanian Seals and Sealings in the A. Saeedi Collection. Lovanii: Peeters.


Published References
  • Antonietta Catanzariti. The Ancient Near East Seal Collection. Washington. .
SI Usage Statement

Usage conditions apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.