between 1600 B.C. and 1350 B.C.
hematite
18.5 x 9.5 mm
Morgan Seal 982
Provenance:
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes:
"It seems possible that in Syrian glyptic the bull-demon could serve as a substitute for the bull-man, since 982 depicts two bull-demons holding standards, in the manner of the bull-men of 915. Pairs of bull-demons as standard bearers occur in Mitannian art; such renderings usually show the two grasping the same standard, which is often topped by a sun disk (Nuzi 819-823). ... The bull-demons in the massively modeled seals 982 and 983 can be compared to those on a seal found at Ras Shamra and dated by Dussaud in the thirteenth or twelfth century B.C."--Porada, CANES, p. 133
Summary:
Two facing bull-demons, each with staff topped by pennant-like design -- Terminal: hare above bird.
Catalog link:
Classification:
Department: