Beschreibung:

WESTERN ASIATIC SUMERIAN CYLINDER SEAL WITH TEMPLE PORTICO Circa 3000 BC A pink limestone cylinder seal with temple façade and fish; accompanied by a museum-quality impression and typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: "Cylinder Seal of Pink Marble 19 x 15 mm. The design, which is mostly linear, consists of a temple façade in all detail, with a triangle in the gateway, and a row of four fish, one above the other. This is a Jemdet Nasr Sumerian seal, c. 3000 B.C. It is in fine condition. Fish were a very important part of Sumerian life since they provided the protein for most people. Meat was rare and very expensive. Fish were also often given to temples as offerings." 7.72 grams, 18mm (3/4"). Very fine condition. Provenance Property of a London gentleman; part of his family collection since the 1970s. Footnotes This lot is part of a single collection of cylinder seals which were examined in the 1980s by Professor Lambert and most are accompanied by his own detailed notes; the collection has recently been reviewed by Dr. Ronald Bonewitz.