Goddess holding ring(?)

between 800 and 700 B.C.
grey chert
20.5 x 12.5 x 10.5 mm
Morgan Seal 792
Provenance: 
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes: 

"The stamp seals... that can be related to Neo-Asyrian cylinders (789-794) have been grouped as Neo-Assyrian, even though it is possible that some of them were not made in Assyria... Seal 792, which is executed by means of coarse drilling, shows a goddess seated on a chair the back of which is decorated with stars as in drilled-style seals (699-701) that have been dated late in the eighth or in the seventh century (p. 84). A similar representation is found on a stamp seal from Nineveh. However, the motif of a dragon supporting the throne of the goddess as in 792 is rare (Louvre A. 731b). ". Porada, CANES, p. 96-97
Conical seal with rounded top and slightly convex oval base.

Summary: 

Goddess holding ring(?) and seated on chair with star-studded back, supported by dragon; before goddess, four-pointed star.

Classification: 
Department: