Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Seated griffin above seated lion, hare, reversed goat, and nude bearded hero

between 2000 B.C. and 1750 B.C.
hematite ;
Morgan Seal 927
Description
1 cylinder seal : hematite ; 18 x 11 mm
Provenance
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan sometime between 1885 and 1908.
Notes
"The suppliant goddess of 926, 927, 931 is an example [of figures derived from the Old Babylonian repertory], though in 927 and 931 she wears the turban-like headgear seen in 878, which is a Cappadocian seal. ... A seal showing identical engraving and hence perhaps made in the same workshop was found [Oriental Institute Publications, vol. XXIX], at Alisar (Von der Osten, The Alishar Huyuk p. 207, fig. 246:3103)."--Porada, CANES, p. 121-122
Summary
Seated griffin above seated lion, former menacing hare, latter menacing reversed goat that is held by nude bearded hero -- Bird above monkey -- Suppliant goddess facing worshiper, between them sun disk inclosing globe over crescent, above monkey.
Classification
Department