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cylinder seal
Object Type
cylinder seal
Museum number
89181
Description
Hematite cylinder seal; two robed figures face each other on a base-line and hold between them a lightning fork; one wears a pointed and the other a horned head-dress, the latter resembling those on Elamite seals. The figures are made up of a deep groove and a mass of drill-holes and the beginnings of a third figure in the same style can be seen to the left. Vertical lines beneath the figures and the present inscription indicate that the design was differently arranged on more than one occasion but presumably consisted of a king with a mace and a suppliant goddess, judging from the proportions of the seal - although its narrow diametre also argues in favour of considerable erasure and recutting; two-lines of inscription; chipped.
Cultures/periods
Old Babylonian
Elamite
(?)
Findspot
Found/Acquired:
Iraq, South
(?)
Materials
hematite
Technique
drilled
cut
Dimensions
Diameter:
1 centimetres
Diameter:
0.4375 inches
Height:
1.125 inches
Length:
2.75 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references
Collon 1986a / Catalogue of the Western Asiatic Seals in the British Museum: Cylinder Seals III: Isin-Larsa and Old Babylonian Periods
(241)
Location
Not on display
Subjects
deity
king/queen
storm
arms/armour
Associated names
Named in inscription:
Nergal
Acquisition name
Purchased from:
William D Cutter
Acquisition date
1883
Department
Middle East
BM/Big number
89181
Registration number
1883,0820.2