Cylinder Seal with a King as a Hero

On this barrel-shaped cylinder seal, a hero or king is depicted in a "Master of Animals" pose, holding the hind legs of two winged creatures. The meaning of the small symbol in the field, whether an Aramaic inscription or a hieroglyphic sign, is unclear. Based on the crowned figure's Persian dress and his triumphant pose, this seal dates to the reign of King Darius I (ca. 521-486 BCE) or after. During his reign Darius conducted a great deal of political restructuring. Around his 6th year ruling the Achaemenid “court style” emerges, visually reflecting some of these changes. This new style features figures dressed in Persian-style outfits, and one of this style's most common theme was a conquering hero holding defeated creatures.

Cylinder seals are cylindrical objects carved in reverse (intaglio) in order to leave raised impressions when rolled into clay. Seals were generally used to mark ownership, and they could act as official identifiers, like a signature, for individuals and institutions. A seal’s owner rolled impressions in wet clay to secure property such as baskets, letters, jars, and even rooms and buildings. This clay sealing prevented tampering because it had to be broken in order to access a safeguarded item. Cylinder seals were often made of durable material, usually stone, and most were drilled lengthwise so they could be strung and worn. A seal’s material and the images inscribed on the seal itself could be protective. The artistry and design might be appreciated and considered decorative as well. Cylinder seals were produced in the Near East beginning in the fourth millennium BCE and date to every period through the end of the first millennium BCE.

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Henry Walters, Baltimore, [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Sadie Jones (Mrs. Henry Walters), New York, 1931, by inheritance; Joseph Brummer, Paris and New York, 1941, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1941, by purchase.