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‘A presentation scene of a seated god and three
standing figures before him. The seated god
wears a horned tiara and long flounced robe
while sitting on an angular stool. He carries a rod
over one shoulder and with the other hand holds
up a cup overflowing with water and holding
three plant shoots. He is bearded, as is the first
standing figure. He too is a god, in horned tiara
but long robe falling in creases from the waist
down. Behind him is a human couple: the man
first, bearded and wearing a long fringed robe
and raising one hand, the woman with head-
band and long robe falling in creases, also
raising one hand. There is a star (symbol of
Venus) in the sky, and a tall mace and two
scorpions are fillers in the scene. A stylised palm
tree forms a terminal.
This is an Akkadian seal, c.2300-2200 BC. The
stone is worn but the design was deeply cut and
has survived very well. While the seal is
Akkadian, the scorpions and palm tree are later
additions made when the seal passed to a
second owner in the ancient world.’
Interpretation and dating provided by Professor
Lambert.
- (LO.1090)
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