Ancient cylinder seals and more
Amygdaloid Stamp Seals
The rare, almost unique Amygdaloid or almond shaped seal form comes from the Minoan culture whose seafaring traders travelled widely throughout the ancient world and even established trading colonies as far away as Mesopotamia.i The examples featured in the collection are likely from such a Mesopotamian trading site. Amygdaloid seals and seal impressions are represented in museum collections worldwide and are attributed to Minoan sources. ii, iii
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White stone amygdaloid stamp seal from a Minoan trading colony in Mesopotamia. Carved in the distinctive almond shape this seal is engraved with the image of a snake. Dating from the Second Millennium BC, it shows signs of local Sumerian influence which indicates it was carved later in the Minoan trade post period. It has a bi-directional drill hole through the long axis and measures 19 mm x 37 mm x 11 mm.
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Large white stone amygdaloid stamp seal from a Minoan trading colony in Mesopotamia. Carved in the distinctive almond shape this seal is engraved with a pattern of drill hole dots which might represent a stylized insect or perhaps a sunburst. Dating from the Second Millennium BC, it also shows signs of local Sumerian influence which indicates it was carved later in the Minoan trade post period. It has a bi-directional drill hole through the long axis and measures 36 mm x 20 mm x 11 mm.
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Smaller stone amygdaloid stamp seal from a Minoan trading colony in Mesopotamia. Carved in the distinctive almond shape and dating from the Second Millennium BC, it has a very basic, almost crude design and likely comes from the very early part of the Minoan trade post period. It has a bi-directional drill hole through the long axis and measures 26 mm x 17 mm x 7 mm.
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Sumerian Proto-Literate period, 3500-2750 BC, pink stone small amulet, with piercing for suspension, carved in the shape of a tiny animal, likely an aardvark. Measuring 8 mm at its widest point, this rare amulet is from the personal collection of the late Thomas Cederlind.
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Green stone Sumerian amulet from the Third Millennium BC, carved in the shape of a roaring lion. It has a bi-directional drill hole down its length to allow for suspension. This is a charm or decorative piece and measures 33 mm in length.
i Cultures in Contact: From Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean in the Second Millennium B.C. Aruz, Joan, Sarah B. Graff, and Yelena Rakic, eds. (2013). Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028
ii Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carinated amygdaloid seal
Period: Gawra XIII-XI
Date: ca. 4100–3500 B.C.
Geography: Mesopotamia
Medium: Steatite, green black
Dimensions: Seal Face: 3.28 x 2.15 cm
Height: 0.73 cm
String Hole: 0.3 cm
Accession Number: 74.51.4377
iii Getty Museum, Amygdaloid engraved seal.
Date: 1700–1450 B.C.
Medium: Amathest.
Dimensions: 2.6 × 2.1 × 1.1 cm (1 × 13/16 × 7/16 in.)
Place Created: Crete
Culture: Greek/Minoan
Item number: 2001.14.3