Lot 48
48
AN IMPORTANT NEO-ASSYRIAN CORNELIAN CYLINDER SEAL
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
AN IMPORTANT NEO-ASSYRIAN CORNELIAN CYLINDER SEAL

CIRCA 750-600 B.C.

Details
AN IMPORTANT NEO-ASSYRIAN CORNELIAN CYLINDER SEAL
CIRCA 750-600 B.C.
Showing the storm god, Adad, surrounded by a nimbus and the seven Pleiades, crowned by a star above and at his waist, armed with a bow at his shoulder and brandishing a weapon, and standing on the back of his attribute the roaring winged lion-griffin with scorpion tail, behind him stands a guardian winged griffin-demon holding a situla and a pine-cone for purification; facing the god is a bearded male worshipper, the owner of the seal, who stands with hands in a gesture of adoration, behind him stands a goddess; in the sky are a winged sun-disc, star and a crescent; a cuneiform inscription reads "Seal of Bel-lu-dari, eunuch of Shulmu-sharri"
1 13/16 in. (4.5 cm.) high
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Eunuchs were high-ranking servants employed only by the king or high officials; the owner of the above seal, Shulmu-sharri, must therefore have been one of the latter. During the period to which this seal dates, we know of a high official under King Sennacherib called Shulmu-sharri who governed the city Halzi-atbar, and was the royal officer who gave his name to the year 698 B.C. It is possible, therefore, that this man's eunuch was the owner of the above seal.

More from Fine Antiquities

View All
View All