God with cup on throne supported by lions

between 2000 B.C. and 1750 B.C.
hematite
14.5 mm diameter
Morgan Seal 894
Provenance: 
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes: 

"In this seal the figures are placed at varying levels all over the field, so that the composition pre-empts the height as well as the width of the cylinder surface, whereas in south-Mesopotamian compositon the main figures are consistently arrayed along the base line. Furthermore, the figures differ in rendering and action from those of south-Mesopotamian design. Especially distinctive is the only face preserved in this seal and characterized by a long, fleshy nose, small mouth, and clearly defined eyes. In the rendering of the animal bodies, parallel ropelike lines form the trunk; other parts of the body are indicated by a change of direction in these lines. The horns of the bull are drawn in one curved line above the head; in the renderings of other Cappadocian groups, the horns are usually indicated by means of two separate lines."--Porada, CANES, p. 112

Summary: 

"Theme 1: God with cup on throne supported by two crouching lions, back to back; before god, altar topped with ring; in upper field, attendant filling god's cup from pitcher -- Theme 2: God placing one foot on bull that he holds by rein while resting other foot on two mountains and grasping behind him head of snake, above which is end of streamer of headgear (fragmentary). Above bull's rein,nude female holding open her veil; below rein, bird monster -- Theme 3; Goddess enthroned on kneeling goat above two crouching lions and holding one of two tubes protruding from vessel before her; at left of vessel, indefinable object; at right, altar, hand above it; bird perched on goddess' other hand, two more birds behind her; entire group supported by bar ending in rearing goat heads; bar in turn upheld by two bull-men flanking monster with two eagle heads -- Theme 4: Above: table, topped with three rings, before statue of bull iwth two hands extending from its breast; before legs of statue, indefinable object; below: human figure before lion with two hands(?) rising from its back, small sphnx below arms of human figure." Porada, CANES, p. 113

Classification: 
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