Caption

Hittite stamp seal made of hematite. Carefully crafted handle with eight tapering faces ending in a ring and a spherical grip with a horizontal perforation. Circular base carved with two ornamented concentric circles: a larger spiral-tendril motif and a smaller braided motif. Two characters imitating Hittite hieroglyphic writing were added in the 19th century. Old Hittite period, 17th–14th century BC. From Karahöyük Adiyaman Province, Turkey, Hittite Empire. Seal; height 3.1 cm, width 3.3 cm., A dark metallic object with a rounded top and a flared base sits against a white background; the surface shows a matte black finish with areas of darker and lighter gray sheen, rough patches, and small worn spots revealing brownish tones, and there is a circular recess near the top with a textured dark interior.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A04_297

License type

Rights managed

Available size

41.7Mb (1.5Mb) / 12.7in x 12.7in / 3820 x 3820 (300dpi)

Keywords

Hittite stamp seal hematite Carefully crafted handle eight tapering faces ending ring spherical grip horizontal perforation Circular base carved two ornamented concentric circles larger spiral-tendril motif smaller braided motif Two characters imitating Hittite hieroglyphic writing added 19th century Old Hittite period 17th–14th century BC Karahöyük Adiyaman Province Turkey Hittite Empire Seal height 3.1 cm width 3.3 cm dark metallic object rounded top flared base sits white background surface matte black finish areas darker lighter gray sheen rough patches small worn spots revealing brownish tones circular recess near top textured dark interior.