WESTERN ASIATIC BABYLONIAN CYLINDER SEAL WITH LAMA GODDESS
19th-16th century BC
A mottled red stone cylinder seal with three lines of cuneiform, standing goddess in long robes and horned crown, lunar crescent on a stand, accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and unsigned by W. G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'The design shows a three-line inscription in Sumerian cuneiform and to the right a standing Lamma goddess in horned tiara and long flounced robe, to the left a lunar crescent on a tall stand. The inscription names a god with epithets: Lugal-Kis'a, great lord of Kisa'a.........his father. This is a Babylonian seal, c. 2000-1600 BC. The inscription seems to be unique, and the last line is obscure so far, being in a learned kind of Sumerian. The seal is generally in good condition, but the bottom is chipped and the Lamma has a hole in the middle. The god named is already known, but little known.' 18 grams, 33mm (1 1/4").
Condition
Fine condition, chipped.
Provenance From an important private London collection; formed in the 1970s and 1980s.