between ca. 2149 and 2113 B.C.
lapis lazuli ;
Morgan Seal 254
Description
1 cylinder seal : lapis lazuli ; 23 x 12 mm
Provenance
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes
"Seals 254-261 are distinguished by their deeply incised engraving, which is most obvious in the human faces. The subjects of these seals are all derived from Akkad designs depicting worship of deities. Ritual scenes with female participants, who are undifferentiated except by their actions (255-259), are more numerous than ritual scenes in which the principal figure is distinguished as a deity by being rendered with a horned miter (254, 260, 261). Of the deities so depicted, however, only the sun god in 254 can be clearly identified."--Porada, CANES, p. 31-32
Summary
Worshiper carrying kid and led by goddess toward sun god with rays whose foot is placed on mountain -- In field: crescent, ball staff -- Terminal: small pine tree.
Catalog link
Classification
Place
Southern Mesopotamia.
Department