Hero grasping human-headed winged lion (lamassu, sphinx) on either side

Object no. S02639
Description of the seal image A bearded hero grasps a rampant human-headed winged lion (lamassu, sphinx) on either side, each by a foreleg. He wears a long, broad-belted, tiered and fringed, open robe over a short tunic and has a sword at his waist. His garment is decorated with a net or crosshatch pattern above the belt. Behind the hybrid creatures is a vertically-set, alphabetic inscription.
Figures, motifs/symbols - hero: bearded, wearing a long, broad-belted, tiered and fringed, open robe over a short tunic; the upper part of his garment is decorated with a net or crosshatch pattern, has a sword at his waist
- human-headed winged lions (lamassus, sphinxes) (2): rampant, beardless
- inscription: vertically-set, alphabetic
Subcategory cylinder seal sealing (cylinder seal)
Collection The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
Museum number WAM 42.793 – WAG C21
Condition, shape slightly chipped upper and lower edges
Culture Assyro-Babylonian
Provenance ex-Henry Walters Collection (Baltimore); inherited by Sadie Jones (Mrs Henry Walters) in 1931 (New York); purchased by Joseph Brummer (Paris and New York) in 1941; purchased by The Walters Art Museum in 1941
First occurence before 1931
Archaeological context N/A
Registration number N/A
Dimensions (mm): height, diameter h: 22, d: N/A
Material and features "chalcedony"
Style modelled
Scene contest
Writing system, language alphabetic: Aramaic
Transliteration

1. lkpr.

Translation Property of Kapar(a).
Bibliography

Gordon 1939, 28 no. 89 and pl. XI.



Gordon, C. H.: "Western Asiatic Seals in the Walters Art Gallery". Iraq 6/1 (1939) 3–34.



WAM: https://art.thewalters.org/detail/23910/cylinder-seal-with-bearded-hero-female-sphinxes-and-inscription/ [accessed: 11-11-2023].

Object history The publications mentioning the objects in this database were collected and the objects classified by ZN; data for the present object was input and description of the object done by HL based on the relevant publication provided, then the data was checked by MNy; object data and description were finalized by ZN (03 March 2026). HL – Huba Lőrincz, ZN – Zoltán Niederreiter, MNy – Mónika Nyitrai
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