Female worshiper with pail and male worshiper with kid being led by minor god toward sun god with rays

Download image: 
between 2340 B.C. and 2150 B.C.
lapis lazuli
16.5 x 19.5 mm
Morgan Seal 190
Provenance: 
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes: 

"Among the mythological figures on Akkad seals, the most frequent is the sun god, Shamash. One of the distinctive settings in which this god appears is found in 178-186. The god, identified by his saw and usually by rays emanating from his shoulders, is shown in ascending posture either between two mountains, placing his foot on one and resting his hand on the other, or beside a single mountain on which he steps while resting his hand on a mace. Before him attendants throw open the gates of heaven... Worshipers are sometimes found on seals featuring the ascending sun god, as in 184 ... Hovever, figures approaching the god appear more frequently when he is enthroned than when he is ascending a mountain. Such figures may be human or divine worshipers (189-194)." . Porada, CANES, p. 24

Summary: 

Female worshiper with pail following male worshiper who carries kid and is being led by minor deity toward sun god with rays enthroned on mountain -- Before sun god, vessel and ball staff.

Place: 
Southern Mesopotamia.
Period: 
Classification: 
Department: