Details

LOT 0252

Syrian Stone Cylinder Seal with Storm God and Fertility Goddess

CIRCA 1800-1700 B.C.

3/4 in. (6.58 grams, 21 mm).

With standing figures and animals, accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder Seal of Hematite, 21.5 x 11 mm. The design is made up of two parts. The main scene shows two facing deities. On the left stand the Storm God, Hadad or Teshup, wearing a short kilt and a spiked helmet. A long plait of hair falls down his back. In his raised right hand he holds a mace, in the left a long spear and a bow(?). On the right stands a goddess, nude, having thrown back her cloke, and standing above a bull. This goddess is either Anat or Ashtart, goddess or fertility. There are four fillers in the main scene, two discs, a human hand and an unidentified item. The minor scene consists of a row of three walking humans, the first with one hand raised, below two facing birds. The whole engraing is set between lines, one above one below. This seal in Syrian, c. 1800-1700 B.C. and is a typical example of the interest which the Syrian engravers put into their seals. It is somewhat worn, but the whole of the design is clear, having been cut deeply in the original stone.'; accompanied by a museum quality impression and pair of red stone beads.

Provenance

Anonymous French sale.
Private collection, London, UK.

Accompanied by a copy of an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.