Cylinder seal
Unknown Artist
ca. 2350–2150 BCE
Medium
Serpentine, black
Dimensions
H. 1.9 cm x Diam. !.1 cm
Classification
Stone-Cylinder Seals
Culture & Period
Akkadian · Akkadian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Accession
Accession Number
X.304.30
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of ancient Mesopotamia with this exquisite Akkadian cylinder seal, crafted around 2350–2150 BCE from glossy black serpentine stone. Measuring just 1.9 cm high and 1.1 cm in diameter, this petite gem exemplifies the precision of Akkadian artisans. Cylinder seals like this one were revolutionary tools—rolled across soft clay to create a continuous impression, serving as signatures on administrative tablets, contracts, and goods They marked the dawn of bureaucratic sophistication in one of the world's first empires, under rulers like Sargon of Akkad. Akkadian art marked a shi...