Mesopotamian Agate Amulet in the Shape of a Turtle

Culture: Mesopotamia
Period: 2nd millennium B.C.
Material: Agate
Dimensions: 3.4 cm long
Price: Sold
Ref: 6324
Provenance: American private collection, acquired in the 1980s. Last in a New York auction house.
Condition: Intact
Description: Amulet of a turtle of wonderfully banded agate. The animal with a round shell and flat underside. The small, protruding head with two small perforations on top, once with inlays. The four extremities are elongated. To the left of the head a small hole for suspension. In Mesopotamia the turtle was not only a sought-after food but also attributed with healing power, the reason why it was worn as an amulet.