One of the most remarkable and well-preserved treasures from the ancient world, when increasingly sophisticated and well-organized civilizations began to emerge in the Near East, are carved stone seals in the shape of a cylinder, bearing a wide range of scenes and inscriptions that reflect the material culture, natural environment, political organization and the gods and goddesses of their time. The first appearance of cylinder seals in the ancient Near East dates well prior to the invention of cuneiform, to the Late Neolithic period in Syria.ⁱ The wish and need to affix a symbol of identity or certification to records of many sorts was perhaps the most significant driving force behind the development of this artistic technology but the desire to create, to make a statement and simply have one’s identity attested to by a beautiful image.  >>Read More