Beschreibung:

WESTERN ASIATIC OLD BABYLONIAN CYLINDER SEAL BEARING FOR AHI-SHAGISH 1900-1700 BC A green agate cylinder seal depicting a Lamma goddess and a god with a mace wearing a brimmed hat and short clothes, inscribed with name of the seal's owner, Ahi-shagish son of Ya'uzum, servant of Nin-shubur; accompanied by a typed scholarly note by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: "Cylinder seal of green stone with black inclusions. The design shows two, facing standing gods: a Lamma goddess on the right, in horned tiara and long flounced robe, raising both hands. On the left is the god with mace, in hat and short clothes, holding his mace at the waist. A three-line cuneiform inscription names the ancient seal owner: Ahi-Shagish, son of Ya'uzum, servant of (the god) Nin-shubur. This is an Old Babylonian seal, c. 1900-1700 B.C. and is in good condition. Ahi-Shagish is a Babylonian name, Ya'uzum is an Amorite name." 11 grams, 28mm (1"). Fine condition. Provenance From an important collection of Classical and Near Eastern seals formed in the late 1970s and early 1980s; the property of a London gentleman, cat. no.26372/70. TimeLine Auctions, 19th June 2013. Lot No. 0821. Footnotes Ninshubur was a Sumerian messenger goddess and a sukkal , or second-in-command, of the goddess Inanna. She played an important role in many myths about Inanna, most notably the one about her descent to the Underworld. Although she is usually described as an unmarried virgin, in a few accounts she is said to be one of Inanna's lovers and referred to as a male in Akkadian mythology. While Inanna was associated with the planet Venus, Ninshubur was associated with the planet Mercury. Her name can be translated as "Queen of the East".