Hero grasping two lions on backs of kneeling bulls

Download image: 
between 1400 B.C. and 1300 B.C.
rock crystal
27 x 13 mm
Morgan Seal 592
Provenance: 
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes: 

Cylinder chipped.
"A fourteenth-century dating is indicated for 592 by the fact that the design retains many Mitannian features. There is still a considerable use of the drill, the composition takes in the entire height of the seal, and certain figures--the kneeling bulls, the sphinx, and the griffin--are taken over almost unchanged from Mitannian seal designs." Porada, CANES, p. 68

Summary: 

Center: hero grasping lion at either side, each lion on back of kneeling bull; above each lion, bird of prey; below first lion, kneeling antelope; over whole group, winged sun disk -- Terminal: bird of prey between female sphinx and griffin, each monster resting hind foot on one lion of main motif, other hind foot on small antelope, while forefeet of both monsters rest on crown of palmette tree.

Place: 
Southern Mesopotamia.
Classification: 
Department: