Dual scene: Contest scene depicting Persian hero grasping lion standing on human-headed winged lion (shedu, sphinx) on either side/Contest scene depicting lion-demon (ugallu) smiting human-faced winged wild goat (ibex)
| Kategória | Cylinder Seals |
| Description of the seal image | The seal image comprises two contest scenes. In the first one, a bearded hero grasps a rampant lion on either side, each by the throat, while standing on two reclining human-headed winged lions (shedus, sphinxes). He wears Persian clothing (court robe). The sphinxes wear rectangular, feather-topped headdresses. In the second scene, a lion-demon (ugallu) depicted in a smiting position grasps the horn of a rampant human-faced winged wild goat (ibex) with one hand and holds a dagger in the other. It wears a belted, fringed kilt and has a sword at its waist. |
| Figures, motifs/symbols |
- hero: bearded, wearing Persian clothing (court robe) - human-faced winged wild goat (ibex): rampant, bearded - human-headed winged lions (shedus, sphinxes): reclining, bearded, wearing rectangular, feather-topped headdresses - lion-demon (ugallu): snarling, pointy ears, smiting position, wearing a belted and fringed kilt, has a sword at his waist, holding a dagger - lions (2): rampant, snarling |
| Subcategory | cylinder seal |
| Collection | The Metropolitan Museum of Art / The MET / MMA |
| Museum number | MMA 1999.325.81 |
| Condition, shape | slightly chipped upper and lower edges |
| Culture | Achaemenid, Neo-Babylonian |
| Provenance | ex-Kelekian Collection; acquired by Dikran G. Kelekian between 1893–1910; donated by Nanette B. Kelekian to the MMA in 1999 |
| First occurence | between 1893–1910 |
| Archaeological context | N/A |
| Registration number | N/A |
| Dimensions (mm): height, diameter | h: 22, d: 10 |
| Material and features | "agate, banded" |
| Style | modelled |
| Scene | contest, dual |
| Bibliography |
MMA website (currently not available) |