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HOME :
Near Eastern Art :
Cylinder Seals : Cylinder Seal of Dark Stone
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Cylinder Seal of Dark Stone - LK.146
Origin: Central Asia
Circa: 2300
BC
to 2200
BC
Dimensions:
1.3" (3.3cm) high
Collection: Near Eastern Art
Medium: Dark Stone
£6,000.00
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
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The design shows three pairs of heroes
fighting rearing big animals, from the left: a
bull with human face grappling a lion, and a
nude hero with much facial hair grappling with
a second lion, and a hero in short kilt grappling
with a buffalo.
This is an Akkadian seal from Mesopotamia, c.
2300-2200 B.C, in the classical Akkadian
style. This art changed from earlier Sumerian
art in cultivating a naturalism seen especially
in the animals and the heroes’ faces here,
which are especially fine. Also the motif of the
scenes changed. The Sumerian depicted
domestic animals being saved from the attacks
of wild animals, but the military ethics of the
Akkad kings resulted in displays of might:
heroes grappling with lions with their bare
heads.
This seal is a little worn, but the power of the
art remains clear to see.
- (LK.146)
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