-
(D. 1522). Chalcedony. Cylinder seal. 17 x 9 mm. Enlarged on
Plate VI.
The several figures on this seal, reading from left to right, are
as follows: a
sitting antelope with reverted head; then a circle crossed by two
parallel lines with
a smaller circle below it, a rhomb, and a fish in a perpendicular
row; then a moon-
crescent, with two streamers ending in knobs, surmounting a pole
set on a pedi-
ment; and finally a long-robed standing worshipper with hands
outstretched
toward the crescent. A line at the top and another at the bottom
delimit the scene.
-
(D. 1521). Chalcedony. Cylinder seal. 23 x 12 mm.
Two winged sphinxes rear at each other in combat. A rhomb appears
under
the legs of the sphinx at the right while a fish appears under
the forelegs of the
other sphinx. On the left a winged sun-disk hovers over a divine
standard con-
sisting of a small disk with two double-knobbed streamers
surmounting a pole
rising from the ground.
-
(D. 1512). Serpentine. Cylinder seal. 23 x 12 mm.
A dog chases a fleeing bull. The animals are very crudely drawn,
but no
more so than the dog in A. Moortgat, op. cit. No. 649, or the
bull, ibid. Nos. 641
and 642. Over the bull are seven dots representing the Pleiades
and an eight-
pointed star representing the sun with rays streaming from it.
Over the dog is
a moon-crescent with the cuneiform sign for BAR immediately below
it. Behind
the dog is a tall palm-tree and under his forelegs is a rhomb. A
line at the top
and another at the bottom delimit the scene.
-
(D. 1546). Carnelian. Cylinder seal. 22 x 8 mm.
A stylized bird, with a moon-crescent hovering over it, follows a
human-
headed bird, wearing a turban.
-
(D. 1547). Rust-colored marble. Cylinder seal. 24 x 12 mm.
Enlarged on Plate
VI.
In the center is a high-pedestaled altar with flames shooting up
from it. On
the right, facing the altar with uplifted hand, is a long-robed
goddess with rays
extending in a circle from her body and a moon-crescent at her
back. She wears a
crown with upright points and between her and the altar is the
divine symbol
illustrated in H. H. von der Osten, Ancient Oriental Seals in the
Collection of
Mr. Edward T. Newell, 1934, o. 145, Fig. 27, No. 442. On the
left is a long-
robed bearded worshipper with hand uplifted toward the altar. A
line at the top
and another at the bottom delimit the scene. This seal is similar
to L. Legrain,
The Culture of the Babylonians from their Seals, 1925, No. 580,
where the god-
dess is identified as Ishtar surrounded by a halo of arrows or
maces; so also C. H.
Gordon, Iraq, VI, 1939, p. 31, No. 103.
-
(D. 1222). Dark serpentine. Cylinder seal. 44 x 16 mm.
This is a royal hunting scene. The king, facing backward in the
chariot and
driven by a charioteer pictured much smaller than himself, shoots
with bow and
arrow at two wild bulls that are attacking him. Over the
galloping horses are,
from left to right, a moon-crescent, seven dots representing the
Pleiades, and an
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