cylinder seal

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Object Type
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
Technique: drilled; cut
Dimensions: Diameter: 1 centimetres; Diameter: 0.4375 inches; Height: 1.125 inches; Length: 2.75 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references
Location: Not on display
Subjects: deity; king/queen; storm; arms/armour
Associated names
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1883
Department: Middle East
BM/Big number: 89181
Registration number: 1883,0820.2

Free entry