BACTRIAN STONE CYLINDER SEAL

Ca. 2nd millennium BC
A stone cylinder seal showcases a captivating scene depicting a bowman taking aim at a mythical creature with bird-like attributes. The central focus of the seal is the bowman, poised in action and demonstrating his skill as an archer. The act of shooting symbolizes precision, agility, and the human capacity to overcome challenges. The mythical creature, with its bird-like characteristics, adds an element of mystery and enchantment to the composition, inviting interpretations related to mythology, symbolism, or spiritual beliefs. Crafted with intricate detail, the seal highlights the artistic prowess of the Bactrian civilization during the 2nd millennium BC. The careful rendering of the bowman and the mythical creature captures their distinctive features and conveys a sense of movement and tension within the scene. Studied by PD Dr. habil. Pieter Gert van der Veen, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
Size: L:43.4mm / W:17.4mm ; 20.78g
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