Winged hero grasping human-headed winged lion (shedu, sphinx) on either side

Object no. S02640
Description of the seal image A bearded winged hero grasps a human-headed winged lion (shedu, sphinx) on either side, each by a foreleg. He wears a long, broad-belted, fringed, open robe over a short tunic. The hybrid creatures seem to have round headdresses.
Figures, motifs/symbols - human-headed winged lions (shedus, sphinxes) (2): rampant, bearded, seemingly wearing round headdresses
- winged hero: bearded, four-winged, wearing a long, broad-belted, fringed, open robe over a short tunic
Subcategory cylinder seal
Collection The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
Museum number WAM 42.442
Condition, shape chipped upper and lower edges
Culture Assyro-Babylonian
Provenance ex-Henry Walters Collection; acquired by him in 1913; bequeathed to The Walters Art Museum by him in 1931
First occurence 1913
Archaeological context N/A
Registration number N/A
Dimensions (mm): height, diameter h: 32, d: 15
Material and features "banded (white, red, and violet) agate"
Style modelled
Scene contest
Bibliography

Gordon 1939, 28 no. 90 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/12017/cylinder-seal-with-a-contest-scene6/ [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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