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cylinder seal
Object Type
cylinder seal
Museum number
89481
Description
Streaked black hematite and red jasper cylinder seal; figure in heraldic combat with two confronting animals. The figure stands facing right with torso presented frontally; his hair or headgear appears like a turban around his head, his eye and nose are well-defined but his mouth and beard have been damaged by a chip; he is dressed in the Persian robe; his arms are slightly raised and outstretched and he seizes the horns of two rampant, prancing goats or ibexes with regardant heads. The animals are very lightly modelled with a linear and angular depiction of the horns, head and legs, and stubby tails; worn and chipped on the upper edge and a small chip on the upper surface obliterates part of the figure's beard. Possible damage to the top end makes the figure very close to the upper edge, giving an uncompleted look to the head.
Cultures/periods
Achaemenid
(Persepolitan, Early/Mature)
Production place
Made in:
Asia
Materials
jasper
hematite
Technique
engraved
hand-modelled
Dimensions
Height:
2.50 centimetres
Width:
1.15 centimetres
Curator's comments
According to Merrillees catalogue "regardant goats or ibex appear on impressions from Nippur of the fifth century".
Bibliographic references
Merrillees 2005 / Catalogue of the Western Asiatic seals in the British Museum: Pre-Achaemenid and Achaemenid periods
(54)
Legrain L 1925 / The Culture of the Babylonians from their Seals in the Collection of the Museum
(909 and 910)
(cf:)
Ward W H 1910 / The Seal Cylinders of Western Asia
(1113 and 1126)
(cf:)
Location
Not on display
Condition
Fair; worn and chipped on the upper edge; small chip on the upper surface; possibly damage to top end.
Subjects
mammal
Acquisition name
Purchased from:
George Eastwood
Acquisition date
1866
Department
Middle East
BM/Big number
89481
Registration number
1866,0416.2