between 2500 B.C. and 2350 B.C.
limestone ;
Morgan Seal 116
Description
1 cylinder seal : limestone ; 22.5 x 9 mm
Provenance
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes
"The upper register of 116 shows a shepherd driving a sheep toward the banqueting figures, while it is probably the rest of his flock that is represented in the lower register. This may indicate that such rows should in general be taken to represent the animals consumed at the feast. A number of seals featuring banquet scenes were found in the grave of Queen Shub-ad (Ur 16-19) and also in other graves of the cemetery at Ur. Many of these seals show the action of the scene of the upper register extended to that of the lower, which indicates that there may often be a connection between the scenes in the two registers." . Porada, CANES, p. 16
Summary
Shepherd driving sheep toward two facing seated figures drinking from tubes in vessel with crescent above it -- Below: Sheep and two goats walking in row -- Four branches or plants in field.
Catalog link
Classification
Place
Southern Mesopotamia.
Department