Two winged lion-demons flanking nude bearded hero with streams flowing over each shoulder

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between 1600 B.C. and 1350 B.C.
hematite
18 x 13 mm
Morgan Seal 979
Provenance: 
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes: 

"The bull-man of the Old Babylonian repertory is rarely found in Syrian seals ... Syrian seals more frequently show the nude bearded hero as a water bearer with flowing vase (979), a representation for which Old Babylonian renderings like 517 ... probably served as examples. Both in 979 and in the Syrian seal Berlin 545, two stars appear above the hero's shoulders, suggesting that he has some astral significance."--Porada, CANES, p. 133
"The representation of a nude bearded hero with two stars over his shoulder ... might be interpreted as the equivalent of the constellation we know as Aquarius"--In August Company, p. 60

Summary: 

Two winged lion-demons, one at either side of nude bearded hero with stream flowing over each shoulder, star at either side of his head -- In field: hand; human head -- Terminal: bird and hand before ibex above walking lion with animal head above its back.

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