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Neo-Assyrian Agate Cylinder Seal
| Title | Neo-Assyrian Agate Cylinder Seal |
| Year | Circa 800s -700s B.C. |
| Country | Unknown |
| Maker | Unknown |
| Material | Agate |
| Collection | Private Collection |
Description
Engraved with two scenes, one with a bearded hero standing upon an ibex, holding two winged lions by a hind leg, a bird perched on their tails, with a star on either side, and a running ibex on either side below; the other scene with a triple-headed bearded god in a winged disk above a tree, a bull above each wing, with standing bull men flanking the tree.
Commentary
Used to seal property, to indicate agreement to a contract, cylinder seals such as this first appear in the Euphrates Valley circa 3500 BC. They demonstrate the high degree of social and economic organisation attained by that date. Adopted by the Assyrians cylinder seals bearing similar representations of divinities, heroes, attendants with royalty, worshippers, and animals executed in the same elongated manner remained in use until the Persian conquest of Babylon in 538 B.C.