Caption

Cylinder seal, unknown Neo-Assyrian workshop. Seal in the so-called linear style with a representation of a religious-magical scene of adoration of the holy tree in the form of a stylised pomegranate bush with a winged solar disc shown above. On both sides of the bush stand human figures in profile, dressed in identical long robes with fringes at the bottom. On the left is a priest, wearing a hat with a ribbon, on the right a king and a courtier, both without headgear. In the field behind the figures are symbols: a palm leaf and an eight-pointed star. The entire image is framed at the top and bottom with a herringbone ornament. Iconography: pomegranate bushes, winged disc, stars. Linear style. Religious scenes. 9th–8th century BC; Neo-Assyrian period, Northern Mesopotamia place of manufacture; Assyria/Mesopotamia/Iraq/Turkey/Syria origins/places of finding. Cylinder seal; height 3.5 cm, width 1 cm., A vertically oriented cylindrical object with an uneven, carved surface showing a few shallow relief figures and patterns, rendered in dark brown with areas of lighter brown and olive-green patina; the top appears rounded and darker, the lower end shows a smoother, slightly mottled lighter-brown area, and the carved details create highlights and shadows against a plain white background.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A03_089

License type

Rights managed

Available size

29.5Mb (1.2Mb) / 9.5in x 12.1in / 2844 x 3628 (300dpi)

Keywords

Cylinder seal unknown Neo-Assyrian workshop Seal -called linear style representation religious-magical scene adoration holy tree form stylised pomegranate bush winged solar disc shown sides bush stand human figures profile dressed identical long robes fringes bottom left priest wearing hat ribbon right king courtier headgear field figures symbols palm leaf eight-pointed star entire image framed top herringbone ornament Iconography pomegranate bushes winged disc stars Linear style Religious scenes 9th–8th century BC Neo-Assyrian period Northern Mesopotamia place manufacture Assyria Mesopotamia Iraq Turkey Syria origins places finding height 3.5 cm width 1 cm vertically oriented cylindrical object uneven carved surface showing shallow relief figures patterns rendered dark brown areas lighter brown olive-green patina rounded darker lower smoother slightly mottled lighter-brown area carved details create highlights shadows plain white background.