Cylinder Seals – The Van Egmond Collection

Ancient cylinder seals and more

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Sumerian chalcedony cylinder seal, heroes and animals in traditional contest and mastery scenes; horned head-dressed hero, possibly Gilgamesh, with two lions with horned antelope or goat beneath the lion on the right. Three other nude standing figures, the two “bullmen” on either side of a humanoid being appearing animal-like with tails but holding staff-like weapons with deeply drilled holes for eyes. Very stylized figures similar to those in a seal in the British Museum, Item No. 89538, known as the “Master of the Animals” seal, from the same period. From the Early Dynastic III period, 2450-2350. Central figure facing with two men flanking attacking two lions on hind in contest with two bullmen, facing right, facing forward. This seal measures 27 mm x 20 mm.

Cylinder seals are most remarkable for their tiny scale and yet the beauty and intricacy of the images carved upon them. The images and inscriptions on these sometimes very hard stones can be measured in millimeters and feature incredible detail. The stones from which the cylinder seals were carved include agate, chalcedony, lapis lazuli, steatite, hematite, carnelian, limestone, marble, quartz, serpentine, hematite and jasper; for the most distinguished there were seals of gold and silver but very few in those precious metals have survived.ⁱⁱⁱ

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2

Large Sumerian multiple lined geometric seal, with several registers of design, central v-chevrons divided by striated sections, carved in black steatite from the Proto Historical 3500-3000 BC. From South Central Iraq. Hole drilled through the center of the seal to allow for wearing on a cord. This seal masures 40 mm x 12 mm.

To study Ancient Near Eastern cylinder seals is to enter a uniquely beautiful, personal and detailed miniature universe of the remote past, but one which was directly connected to a vast array of individual actions, both mundane and momentous.

The art of carving cylinder seals evolved seemingly quite quickly as the utility and pehaps even more importantly, the status of possessing and using seals grew. “The Sumerian term for seal cutter is BUR.GUL; the Akkadian is purkullu. It is likely of the consistency of style and iconography that seal cutters worked in workshops, at least in the large centers. It is possible that in some periods, seal cutters travelled from job to job or court to court. In several specific instances, stylistic analysis has allowed scholars to link seals from different locales to a single workshop, perhaps even to a single seal- carver.”^iv

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3

White stone geometric seal from the Proto Historical 3500-3000 BC, in an x and diamond pattern with central dot drill points in each diamond, perhaps suggesting a star pattern. This seal measures 26 mm x 8 mm.

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4

Exceptionally fine Sumerian blue-green faience cylinder seal from the Proto-Historical Period, 3000-2700 BC, with elaborate multiple registers of cross-hatching, dots and lines. It measures 20 mm x 10.5 mm.

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5

White Sumerian marble cylinder seal from the Protolitetate or Uruk Period, 4000-3100 BC. This seal features a pattern of sideways v-shaped lines within lined borders at the top and bottom. This seal has a bi-directional drill hole through the long axis and measures 19 mm in height and 15 mm in diameter.

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6

Cream colored limestone dual register seal from the Jemdet Nasr period, 3100–2900 BC, with deeply drilled dot-with-tail shapes described in other seals as “pigtailed ladies” but perhaps intended to depict aquatic life. From South Central Iraq. This seal measures 34 mm x 17 mm.

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White marble seal from the Jemdet Nasr period, 3100–2900 BC, with multiple lines depicting a face, presumably human, with eyes and nose clearly shown. This seal measures 17 mm wide x 16 mm across.

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8

Sumerian, Akkadian era cylinder seal dating from 2350-2200 BCE, with a contest scene in high relief, featuring a contest frieze of two crossed bullmen and central figure facing forward in front of heavenly gate. This is a large seal measuring 24 mm. in diameter and 32 mm. in height / length.

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Large, perfectly shaped round purplish-pink stone dual register cylinder seal from the Jemdet Nasr period, 3100–2900 BC, with finely incised dual line divider between the two rows of deeply drilled dots with pigtail like extensions. This seal measures 23 mm tall x 24 mm wide.

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10

Black stone old Elamite cylinder seal with unusual varied geometric patterns, with a rare concave indented center, from Susa in what is now northern Iran, 2500-2200 BC. This seal measures 20 mm x 20 mm.

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Sumerian lapis lazuli cylinder seal from the Proto-Literate period, 4000-2900 BC with a carefully carved dual register geometric pattern. This seal measures 22 mm in length.

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12

Mitiannian green stone cylinder seal from the Uruk Period featuring highly stylized animal shapes with large eyes in an interesting crossing formation, with a trio of pointed animal or bird shapes. This seal measures 26 mm x 12 mm.

Art historians can learn much from cylinder seals as it is widely agreed that the images engraved on seals accurately reflect the pervading artistic styles of the day and the particular region of their use. Each surviving seal, and they survived in very great numbers, can be seen as a valid, genuine time capsule showcasing the motifs and styles that were popular during the lifetime of the owner. These seals offer important information to understand the developing artistic styles of the Ancient Near East.

The second reason why art historians are interested in cylinder seals is because of the iconography (the study of the content of a work of art). Each character, gesture and decorative element can be “read” and reflected back on the owner of the seal, revealing his or her social rank and even sometimes the name of the owner. Although the same iconography found on seals can be found on carved stelae, terra cotta plaques, wall reliefs and paintings, its most complete compendium exists on the thousands of seals which have survived from antiquity.^v

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13

Large pink granite-like stone cylinder seal from the Sumerian Early Dynastic period, 2900-2350 BC, featuring nude heroes in a contest scene with a rearing horse. It measures 37 mm tall by 21 mm across.

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14

Ancient Cyprus, green stone cylinder seal with wildly stylized figures in a square or cubic style of a human figure with hands raised, a tree and bird in the background. Dating from the middle Bronze Age, perhaps 2200-1800 BC, this seal has a bidirectional drill hole down the center and measures 1 5/8 inches in length.

The engraved images on cylinder seals as well as any cuneiform text, are carved in reverse, so that when rolled out onto clay they face the correct direction. The great advantage of a cylinder over a stamp seal is that it covers a much larger area with one impression. A stamp will only seal as much as it can cover, but a seal can be rolled over a much larger area, indeed, may be rolled continuously to create a hypothetically infinite pattern. Throughout much of the ancient Near Eastern world, from the end of the 4th millennium B.C.E. until the 5th century B.C.E., cylinder seals were used both as administrative tools – functioning much as a signature does on an official document today or used to mark one’s property and to prevent tampering with sealed doors or containers – and as decorative or protective amulets – often worn on a necklace or a pin.

The use of cylinder seals predates but significantly developed alongside that of the cuneiform writing system, invented in Mesopotamia near the end of the 4th millennium B.C.E.; prior to this, stamp seals (designed to be pressed onto clay or other media, rather than rolled) had served similar purposes. Cuneiform was written on clay tablets, and cylinder seals were better suited than stamp seals to quickly fill empty spaces. Cylinder seals remained the most popular form of sealing until the 1st millennium B.C.E., when parchment or papyrus gradually replaced clay as the predominant writing material, and stamp seals again became more popular.^vi

In ancient Mesopotamia, a cylinder seal could be rolled on a variety of objects made of clay. When seals were impressed on tablets or tablet cases the seal impressions served to identify the authority responsible for what was written in the documents, much as a signature does today. When seals were impressed on sealings — lumps of clay that were used to secure doors and the lids of storage jars— the seal impressions served to identify their owner and protect against unauthorized opening. Perforated through the middle like a bead, seals were also believed to have apotropaic, or protective, functions and were worn as jewelry or pinned on garments.

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15

Very small red carnelian cylinder seal from the Mitannian Period, 1500-1300 BC, featuring a classic bird and animal scene popular in that Indo-Iranian culture during that era and measures 13 mm x 5 mm.

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Very richly detailed black stone cylinder seal from the late Jemdet Nasr or Early Dynastic period, 2900-2350 BC, showing animals, trees and other objects in wild, almost violent motion, as if they were being swept away in a flood. While the crowded style is known from other seals of this period, this imagery appears so far to be unique.

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17

Syrian cylinder seal from the Second Millennium BC showing a presentation scene with two supplicants presenting a seated monarch with a gift. The two long robed, helmeted subjects are interesting for the swords they are clearly carrying. A large crescent moon shines above the monarch and the approaching subject. The distinctive brimmed headgear clearly identifies this seal as Syrian. It measures 20 mm x 10 mm.

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Very small red carnelian cylinder seal from the Mitannian Period, 1500-1300 BC, featuring a very large ostrich-like bird and horned antelope or ibexes in a classic animal scene popular in that Indo-Iranian culture during that era. This seal measures 10 mm x 5 mm.

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19

An unusual hematite cylinder seal of the Kassite period, late 2nd Millennium, featuring seven lines of cuneiform inscription of pseudo-text. The inscription is not readable from an impression but the image has to be
flipped horizontally to get the signs right side up – so it was written
positive on the seal.

Most Individual signs are identifiable but make no sense. And two lines are upside down, hence the characterization as pseudo-text. This may represent a spell or incantation of some mystical sort.

It measures 15 mm x 10 mm and has a bi-directional drill hole through the long axis.

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20

Black stone Syrian cylinder seal featuring a classic presentation scene with a female worshiper in a long-segmented gown being presented to a seated female deity by a priestess in a flowing gown with an over-the shoulder drape. The large crescent moon between the presenting priestess and the seated figure reinforces the idea that the deity if a female god. The two columns of cuneiform likely identify the seal owner and the exact deity depicted and likely indicated that this seal was carved as a temple offering. The headdresses of the three figures are again typical of Syrian seals of the Second Millennium BC. This seal measures 31 mm x 15 mm.

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References

ⁱⁱⁱ Sax, M., Collon, D., and Leese, M. N. 1993. ‘The Availability of Raw Materials for near Eastern Cylinder Seals during the Akkadian, Post Akkadian and Ur III Periods’. Iraq

^iv Pittman, Holly 2013. Seals and Sealings in the Sumerian World. In: Crawford, Harriet (ed), The Sumerian World. New York & London: Routledge

^v Bailey, Virginia E., Hammersley, Katherine J., Glock, Alice, Minuscule monuments of ancient art: catalogue of Near Eastern stamp and cylinder seals collected by Virginia E. Bailey in memory of Katherine J. Hammersley: exhibition, March-May 1988, New Jersey Museum of Archeology at Drew University, Madison, NJ, ©1988.

^vi https://archaeologicalmuseum.jhu.edu/staff-projects/ancient-cylinder-seals/