EARLY DYNASTIC III - AKKAD III STONE CYLINDER SEAL

Ca. 2600-2200 BC
A stone cylinder seal showcases a captivating array of animals. Among the depicted animals, a feline creature stands out, commanding attention with its graceful and powerful presence. The seal's composition exhibits a remarkable range of animals, suggesting a connection to the natural world and the significance of fauna in the ancient society's beliefs and daily life. The inclusion of various animals may symbolize traits such as strength, agility, wisdom, or even spiritual associations, reflecting the cultural values and perspectives of the time. Functionally, this stone cylinder seal would have served as a personal or official stamp, allowing individuals to authenticate documents, assert ownership, or convey their authority. By impressing the seal onto clay or other writing materials, individuals would leave behind a distinctive mark, signifying their endorsement or identification. Studied by PD Dr. habil. Pieter Gert van der Veen, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
Size: L:36.7mm / W:18.3mm ; 22.26g
Provenance: Private London collection of an Ancient Art dealer; formerly in a central London family collections 1990s; Suggested to be examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Estimate: GBP 200 - 300