Cylinder seal

The cylinder seal is first occupied 3200-3100 BC in the Sumerian Uruk IV - layer and was introduced as a " new idea " without direct transitional forms. It represents a special form of glyptic and sphragistics and repressed for about 2300 years almost entirely in the Mesopotamia since the 6th millennium BC used stamp seals.

Iconography and chronology

Middle East

Cylinder seals were mostly two to eight inches long (rarely less, from 0.15 cm, or greater than, ten inches and above ), one to two centimeters thick cylinder, the inside usually pierced and thus were hollow. They were worn by the owner on a ribbon or a chain. Normally the seals of stone or gem (especially onyx, lapis lazuli, agate, frit) were cut. Almost all cylinder seals were worked in intaglio technique, that is, that the representation was worked deepened and the impression thus appears in high relief. For stone vessels since the early Mitteluruk time they used may also hollow drill. The waste from such operations is a small, cylindrical stone core. Cylinder seals were also found in Cyprus and in Latin America.

The motifs on the seals were circulating images, sometimes also provided with inscriptions. The seals were rolled in soft clay and were a continuous band of always the same motif to play. In general closures of pitchers, clay nodules or documents were sealed. The seal impressions were individually designed images that had high recognition value. First, the seals were bound to a carrier function, later cylinder seals were widespread among free Mesopotamians. In most cases, can be assigned to Seal individuals, rarely a person had a lot of seals. However, there were even seals that were inherited ( so-called " Dynastic seal" ). It is even known that seals have been awarded or that gods seal had.

Motives of the cylinder seals were sometimes only ornamentalisch, but also hunting scenes, field work scenes, cult scenes and mythological scenes. Already in the first half of the 3rd millennium BC ( Uruk- time Jemdet Nasr period ) there was a wealth of forms, the first consisted mainly of animal figures. In the Early Dynastic period (about 2700-2400 BC), the characters are converted to abstract forms. In the Akkadian period (2350-2150 BC) the representations were characterized by realism, clear and deeply engraved images. Animal and human groups were represented, often scenes in which the introduction of worshipers are shown to protect God. Larger design changes were only again in the late Kassite period at the end of the 2nd millennium BC, as symbols and abstract motifs, which often constitute legendary situations, gained the upper hand. The highlight of the cylinder seal art is the Mittelassyrische time ( second half of the 2nd millennium BC). Animals and hybrid creatures were the main motives here. In Neo-Assyrian Neo-Babylonian period and symbolhaftere scenes set the tone again. As a further highlight in the sealing art the Achaemenid period (8th to 6th century BC) is considered. However, the seals were used here in the first place only to officials and authorities. In the Parthian period, around the time of, ended the use of the cylinder seal.

The Assyrians broke in the 9th century BC to a renaissance of stamp seals, which now again pushed back the cylinder seal in use. Since the motives of the seal changed again and again in different centuries, the cylinder seal one of the most important dating aid in Near Eastern archeology were. Besides its function as a seal the cylinder seals were often amulets. Here was also the term used stone of significance to which specific functions have been ascribed. Also as in the 19th century came rolling seal to Europe in the course of archaeological excavations, it was a long time fashion that women adorned themselves with these.

Ancient Egypt

Cylinder seals were first introduced in Ancient Egypt immediately before the 1st Dynasty and ( about 2100 BC) used about 1000 years until the beginning of the Middle Kingdom. At about this time appeared the new scarabs on in the administration, which pushed the cylinder seal in the subsequent period.

Initially deliver the ancient Egyptian cylinder seal the names of administrative institutions of civil servants and of kings. In the Old Kingdom the production of cylinder seals royal monopoly seems to have become. During this time, officials' names disappear from the seals and they call only administrative institutions, offices, or the name of the king. The discovery of numerous seal impressions in grave plants and settlement sites shows that they were an important part of the administration.