between 2000 B.C. and 1800 B.C.
hematite ;
Morgan Seal 297
Description
1 cylinder seal : hematite ; 24 x 13 mm
Provenance
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes
Cylinder damaged.
"Seals 296-305 depict worship of a figure rendered like the deified kings of the Third Dynasty of Ur, with the difference that the figure is now often seated on a temple throne, earlier reserved for gods of the pantheon. Consequently the figure may here represent not a deified king but a major deity ... standards and small, probably apotropaic objects were increasingly used by the seal cutters of this time. Seal 296, for example, shows a lion-club standard; 297 and 298, a standard in the form of a lion scimitar ... Drillings apparently placed at random in the field (297) are also frequent in Isin-Larsa seals."--Porada, CANES, p. 37-38
"Seals 296-305 depict worship of a figure rendered like the deified kings of the Third Dynasty of Ur, with the difference that the figure is now often seated on a temple throne, earlier reserved for gods of the pantheon. Consequently the figure may here represent not a deified king but a major deity ... standards and small, probably apotropaic objects were increasingly used by the seal cutters of this time. Seal 296, for example, shows a lion-club standard; 297 and 298, a standard in the form of a lion scimitar ... Drillings apparently placed at random in the field (297) are also frequent in Isin-Larsa seals."--Porada, CANES, p. 37-38
Summary
Male figure surrounded by drillings -- Before him, lion scimitar and ball staff -- Two worshipers facing enthroned deified king or god holding cup, crescent before him.
Catalog link
Classification
Place
Southern Mesopotamia.
Department