Cylinder seal with mythological contest scene
Unknown Artist
late 9th–8th century BCE
Medium
Neutral Chalcedony (Quartz)
Dimensions
H. 15/16 in. (3.3 cm); Diam. 9/16 in. (1.5 cm)
Classification
Stone-Cylinder Seals
Culture & Period
Assyrian · Neo-Assyrian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in memory of Charles Dikran and Beatrice Kelekian, 1999
Accession Number
1999.325.72
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite cylinder seal from the Neo-Assyrian period ( 9th–8th century BCE) captures a dynamic mythological contest scene, featuring griffins—fierce, lion-bodied creatures with eagle wings—and human figures locked in combat. Carved from neutral chalcedony, a durable variety of quartz prized for its fine grain and ability to hold intricate details, the seal measures just 15/16 inch high and 9/16 inch in diameter. Rolled across soft clay, it would imprint a continuous frieze, serving as a signature for authenticating documents, goods, or royal decrees in ancient Assyria. Cylinder seals lik...