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cylinder seal
Object Type
cylinder seal
Museum number
122216
Description
Lapis lazuli cylinder seal with gold caps at both ends, over a bitumen core; re-used with inscription of original owner erased or defaced; decoration of a contest scene- lion attacking a bearded hero (full-face) who grasps the tail of a bull which another bearded hero (full-face) is grasping by a horn and foreleg. Both the hero are naked except for a double belt.
Cultures/periods
Akkadian
Production date
2150BC-2000BC
Excavator/field collector
Excavated by:
Sir Leonard Woolley
Findspot
Excavated/Findspot:
Royal Cemetery (Ur)
Materials
lapis lazuli
gold
bitumen
Dimensions
Diameter:
0.75 inches
Height:
3 centimetres
(?)
Height:
4.30 centimetres
(including caps?)
Height:
1.75 inches
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references
Collon 1982a / Catalogue of the Western Asiatic Seals in the British Museum: Cylinder Seals II: Akkadian, Post Akkadian, Ur III Periods
(92, pl.XII)
Sollberger E 1960a / Notes on the early inscriptions from Ur and El-'Obeid
(78)
Woolley et al 1934a / The Royal Cemetery
(p. 583, pl. 211, no. 290, p. 583)
Boehmer R M 1965a / Die Entwicklung der Glyptik wahrend der Akkad-Zeit
Location
On display
(G56/dc9)
Subjects
cattle
wild cat/big cat
Acquisition name
Division of Finds:
Department of Antiquities of Iraq
Acquisition date
1929
Department
Middle East
BM/Big number
122216
Registration number
1929,1017.18
Additional IDs
Excavation/small finds number:
U.12470
(excavation number)
Conservation
Treatment
: 15 Nov 1990