Nude man before altar holding crook and facing two nude men carrying palm leaves

between 1650 B.C. and 1350 B.C.
hematite
20 x 10 mm
Morgan Seal 970
Provenance: 
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes: 

"Seal 970 has a ritual scene of unknown significance that substantially corresponds wiht the design in a cylinder seal impression found in Palestine on a jar on which there appears also the imprint of a scarab of the Twelfth or Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Though this evidence might suggest that 970 was made in Palestine in the early part of the second millennium, it is classified in the second Syrian group because the modeling of the figures resembles that of the worshi[er offering ahare in 937, while it shows none of the egyptianizing elements that, as stated above (p. 118 [CANES]), may mark a seal as of Palestinian origin."--Porada, CANES, p. 130

Summary: 

Nude man before altar holding crook and facing two nude men, each carrying palm leaf -- Ball staff in field -- Terminal: panel inclosing scroll pattern with leaflike ornaments.

Classification: 
Department: