Ancient Near East Seal Collection

Usage conditions apply

Cylinder seal

  • Cylinder seal
  • Cylinder seal
  • Cylinder seal
  • Cylinder seal
  • Cylinder seal
  • Cylinder seal
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Historical period(s)
Akkadian period, ca. 2250-2150 BCE
Medium
Chlorite or serpentinite
Dimension(s)
H x Diam: 3.2 × 2 cm (1 1/4 × 13/16 in)
Origin
Iraq
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Gorelick
Accession Number
F1999.6.18
Keyword(s)
Akkadian period (2350-2150 BCE), chlorite, cylinder seal, Iraq, priest, serpentinite, star, worshiper
Label

This cylinder seal with a context scene shows, from left to right, a human-headed bull figure fighting against a lion, and then another human-headed bull figure holding a standard. The latter is placed upright behind a bearded, nude hero fighting against a bull-man.

This seal, with this particular composition, is dated to the Akkadian period (2350–2150 BCE). It has been suggested that seals from this period were court seals, used by royal personages. The most common scenes depicted on seals of this period are contest scenes and presentation scenes. In this particular seal, the musculature of each individual is emphasized, a characteristic often seen during this time, along with more stylized forms.

References:

Collon, Dominique. 2005. First Impressions: Cylinder Seals in the Ancient Near East. London: British Museum Press.

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