Details

LOT 0359

Western Asiatic Middle Elamite Cylinder Seal of Kidnu, Chief Overseer of King Tan-Ruhurater II

CIRCA 1450 BC

1 1/2" (23 grams, 39mm).

A large green chalcedony cylinder seal with frieze depicting a seated figure in horned headdress facing a standing figure with arms outstretched, small monkey to the legs; six columns of Akkadian cuneiform text transliterated as 1. ki-di-nu UGULA KUŠ-MEŠ 2. GAL šà tan-dru-hu- 3. ra-te-er EŠŠANA šu-ši 4. u an-za-an ARAD 5. šà dha-te-ri-iš 6. šak(?) ì-lí-šu 'Kidinu, chief overseer of the equerries(?) of Tan-Ruhurater, King of Susa and Anzan, servant of Haterishshak, his god'.

Provenance

Property of a North London lady; gifted from her father's collection; formerly with a Mayfair gallery, London, UK; previously acquired in the 1980s.

Footnotes

The seal's owner was an official of King Tan-Ruhurater II (circa 1450 BC), king of Susa and Anzan. The title used to describe Kidinu is sometimes translated 'high official', elsewhere 'horse groom' or 'animal trainer'. The Elamite deity Haterish is otherwise unknown.

CONDITION