Late Bronze Age II

Hematite Cylinder Seal

Black hematite cylinder seal engraved with a scene showing a pair of figures facing each other. Both figures have a globe on top of the head and another on the forehead; the hair of the figure on the left ends in two strands at the back, and its long skirt has a quadruple belt and is divided into panels by vertical lines: one down each side and two together in the centre; the hair of the figure on the right curls up slightly on the shoulder, and the triple-belted skirt is similarly panelled, but with a row of dots between the central vertical lines. Between their heads is a rosette consisting of seven dots surrounding a single dot, beside which is a vertical row of three dots. Between them the figures hold the same inverted quadruped by one hind leg and threaten it with daggers they hold in the hand nearest the viewer; the animal could be a calf or a kid, has double bands round it neck and girth, and hangs with its head down. These two figures are flanked by an ornamental plant, and a bird perches on the plant on the right, facing three demons that approach from the right; all three demons also hold a dagger at an angle against their chest in the hand nearest the viewer. The first is a bull-demon that touches the upper arm of the right hand figure and may be threatening the bird with its dagger; the demon wears a very short panelled kilt that has a triple belt and five bands around the hem. It is followed by a lion-demon and between them is a spear, point down. The lion-demon’s mane is edged by small dots, in its right hand, beneath a crescent, it holds an upright mace that is possibly bird-headed with knobs on its handle, and it wears a long, triple-belted and vertically-striated skirt. A winged, bird-headed demon wears a kilt similar to that of the bull-demon and holds an inverted quadruped by one hind leg; the quadruped is similar to the first but both hind legs are together, and it turns its head upwards; below it is a frontal bucranium. Line borders top and bottom. Dimensions: Diameter: 0.47 centimetres piercing ; Diameter: 1.35 centimetres; Height: 2.90 centimetres Object Type: cylinder seal Techniques: engraved Condition: There is a tiny blemish on the lower end.