Perhaps originally worn as a protective amulet,
this beautiful seal depicts a benevolent nature
deity surrounded by birds and animals. Created
in Ancient Palestine, it evokes the pastoral
imagery of the psalms, a world of peaceful
abundance, where riches are counted in terms of
sheep and goats. The motif of a shepherd god
watching over his flocks recurs centuries later in
Christian iconography. Radiating a serene magic,
this exquisite intaglio offers the timeless
promise of a peaceable kingdom.
- (FJ.3254)
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