At first glance, the stags in this seal appear identically carved. However, the first animal’s forelegs and rear legs are more widely separated than those of the second, while the four legs of the third stag are evenly spaced. These subtle distinctions allow the carver to impart an overall sense of forward motion, while the majestic horns of the stags create a remarkable design across the top of the seal. The combination of implied movement and elegant stylization attests to the artistic vision of seal carvers in the earliest periods of Mesopotamian art.
Ancient cylinder seal with modern impression: Three Stags with a Plant, Mesopotamia, Late Uruk/Jamdat Nasr period (ca. 3500–2900 B.C.). Serpentine, 1 x 7/8 in. (2.5 x 2,2 cm), Morgan Seal 20. Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.