Akkadian cylinder seal with hero
€1,200
available
Object number
AR3287
| Object: |
Akkadian cylinder seal
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| Material: |
Black stone.
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| Period: |
Old Akkadian, c. 2340 BC to 2200 BC. |
| Description: |
Cylindrical seal with a central, longitudinal through hole. A scene in a simplified, naturalistic style is cut onto the outside of the cylinder. In the center of the scene is a naked hero with his arms protectively extended around two horned animals, with a lion attacking each of them from behind. The cylinder seal was made in Mesopotamia. The period of origin is marked by a trend in art in which the formerly rather abstract depictions became more naturalistic. We can see this trend in its infancy for the seal described. Cylinder seals from the Akkadian period show richly decorated battle scenes and mythological scenes. |
| Dimensions: |
25mm length. 13mm diameter.
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| Condition: |
Body in perfect condition, only minor chips. The seal surface is in very good condition with only slight abrasion. The central hole is still clogged with find encrustations. Including a seal imprint by a previous owner.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us on the British art market in 2022. Previously in the British family collection of Dr. A. R. Acquired into the collection in the 1980ies on British art market. A note with an assessment by Professor Lambert is enclosed with the seal. Wilfred George Lambert (1926 to 2011), a British archaeologist specialized on Western Asia, was a professor at the University of Birmingham. After his retirement he was active in the ancient near eastern department of the British Museum. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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