CDLI Seals 001297 (physical) (P270233)

• Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

• Artifact type: Cylinder seal Artifact type comments:

  physical

• Material: Metamorphic rock > Lapis lazuli
• Measurements (mm): 45.0 high × 20.0 wide
• Weight:
• Artifact Preservation:
• Condition Description:
• Join Information:
• Seal no.: S001297
• Seal information:
• Artifact comments:

  This double-register cylinder seal shows a summarily carved composition. In the top register, an unusual version of the banquet scene is depicted, showing two seated female celebrants, both facing left, each raising a vessel. A servant stands behind a table holding breads. In the lower register, an animal combat is shown. The combination of banquet and combat scenes is unusual but not unique on cylinder seals and other artifacts. The significance of the association is unknown. It has been suggested that these seals designated offices responsible for the economies both inside and outside of the court, but it is unclear what the elaborate adornment of the seal’s owner can tell us above her official responsibilities.

• Genre(s):
• Language(s):

• primary: Pittman Treasures from Royal Tombs of Ur (pp. 75-84), 83 no. 27

  [Pittman1998UrTreasures] Pittman, Holly. 1998. “Cylinder Seals.” Edited by Richard L. Zettler. Treasures from Royal Tombs of Ur, 75–84.

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• history: UE 2, no. 039

  [Woolley1934UE2] Woolley, C. Leonard. 1934. The Royal Cemetery: A Report on the Predynastic and Sargonic Graves Excavated between 1926 and 1931. Ur Excavations, vol. 2.

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• Composite No.:
• Museum No.: UM 30-12-003 (was CBS 17722)
• Accession No.:

• Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar) Provenience Comments:

  PG 1237. No. 22. New 61.
  Group:
  [A] Gold hair ribbon.
  [B]Wreath of gold medallions with lapis canters on a string of lapis and carnelian beads
  [C] Wreath of triple gold willow leaves on carnelian and lapis beads.
  [D] Wreath of gold beech leaves on carnelian and lapis beads.
  [E.1-.2] Two large gold lunate earrings.
  [F.1-.2] Two gold wire spiral coil hair rings.
  [G-I] 3 gold flowers on silver stems.
  [J] Silver comb with 3 inlaid flowers.
  [K] Necklace of gold and lapis triangles.
  [L] Necklace of gold and lapis tubular beads and carnelian rings (for order see field notes).
  [M] Necklace of large fluted ball beads gold and lapis and carnelian rings: (for order see field notes).
  [N] Necklace of Carnelian and gold double conoids and carnelian rings.
  [O] Necklace of carnelian rings, gold balls and lapis rounds.
  [P]Bracelet of large lapis and gold, lapis and carnelian rings.
  [Q-V] Six gold finger-rings, all of cable pattern between plain rims of different sizes.
  [W] Bracelet of 4 lapis and 4 gold. Diamond beads and carnelian rings.
  [X] Gold pin with lapis ball head [Type] V.
  [Y] Lapis cylinder seal.
  [Z] Silver pin with lapis head [Type] VI B.

• Elevation:
• Stratigraphic Level:
• Excavation No: U 12380
• Findspot Square:
• Findspot Comments:

  This lapis lazuli seal was found associated with one of the most elaborately adorned of the 68 female victims in the “Great Death Pit.” She wore the full complement of gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and marble headgear and jewelry. In addition, a gold pin with a lapis lazuli ball head and a silver pin with a lapis lazuli had held her cloak together. Perhaps this lapis lazuli cylinder seal was suspended from one of these. Next to her was a silver tumbler.

• Period: ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC)
• Dates Referenced:
• Alternative Years:
• Date Comments:
• Accounting Period: 0

Consult this artifact as presented on the website of collections and projects:

• Penn Museum (129238)
• Electronic Babylonian Library (CBS.17722)

This artifact is a physical seal. See below of a list of its impression(s):