Hero (archer) hunting human-headed winged lion (shedu, sphinx)


Hero (archer) hunting human-headed winged lion (shedu, sphinx)
Kategória Cylinder Seals
Description of the seal image The scene is framed by line borders at the top and bottom. A half-kneeling hero (archer) wearing a long, belted robe aims his bow at a human-headed winged lion (shedu, sphinx). The hero has a tasselled quiver on his back and is further armed with a sword in a sheath at his waist. Between the two figures, there is an eight-rayed star above a fish or a plant, while behind them, the stylus of Nabu. Above the hybrid creature are a crescent moon and a wedge.
Figures, motifs/symbols - borderlines (2): line borders at the top and bottom
- crescent moon
- fish or plant (the field is damaged between the two figures)
- hero: half-kneeling, archer, hunter, wearing a long, belted robe; he has a tasselled quiver on his back and is further armed with a sword in a sheath at his waist
- human-headed winged lion (shedu, sphinx): bearded, raising a forepaw
- star: eight-rayed
- stylus of Nabu
- wedge: cuneiform
Subcategory cylinder seal
Collection De Clercq Collection
Museum Number De Clercq 304
Condition, shape The field is damaged between the two figures.
Culture / Production Place Neo-Assyrian
Provenance ex-de Clercq Collection
First Occurrence before 1888
Archaeological context N/A
Registration number N/A
Dimensions (mm), height, diameter h: 27, d: 13
Material and features "porphyre noir"
Style linear
Scene hunting
Bibliography

De Clercq – Menant 1888, 176–177 no. 304 and pl. XXIX.



De Clercq, L. – Menant, J.: Collection de Clercq: Catalogue méthodique et raisonné. Antiquités assyriennes: Cylindres orientaux, cachets, briques, bronzes, bas-reliefs, etc. I: Cylindres orientaux. I: Texte – II: Planches et carte. Paris, 1888.