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Neo-Assyrian period : Impressions of cylinder seals, reign of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BC)

Date

Authors

Strommenger, Eva

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Abstract

Description

Top : 9th-7th century BC, steatite, h : 3.7 cm (Pierpont Morgan Library, New York)
a god aims with bow and arrow at a fleeing lion-griffin
he is standing on a winged and horned dragon
symbols are spread evenly over the rest of the surface : winged solar disc, palmette tree, star, lozenge and fish. Second (left) : 9th-7th century BC, milky flint, h : 3.7 cm (Munich, Staatliche Munzsammlung)
a winged griffin and a god bending a bow stand opposite each other
crescent and star are the only symbols shown. Second (right) : Seal of Mushezib-Ninurta, c. 850 BC, from Tell Arban, northern Syria, chalcedony, h : 4.9 cm (British Museum)
this representation with king and bird-griffin on either side of a palmette tree recalls palace reliefs of Ashurnasirpal II (WA-112)
the god Ashur in a winged sun hovers above the tree, while the gestures of the deities symbolise fertility. Bottom : Seal of Ashur-beli-usur, c. 804 BC, chalcedony, h : 5.5 cm (Cabinet des Medailles, Paris)
a supplicant stands between (left) storm-god on bull and (right) the goddess Ishtar
star, crescent, the Pleiades and winged sun hover in the air.

Citation

Source

Type

Archives Series

Date created

1964

Access Statement

License Rights

This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.

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