Neo-Assyrian Limestone Cylinder Seal with the Tree of Life

Culture: Assyrian

Period: 9th-8th century B.C.

Material: Limestone

Dimensions: 2.3 high

Price: Sold

Ref: 6699

Provenance: From the Austrian collection Danho Abdul Massich, acquired in 1978 and since then in Austria.

Condition: Intact

Description: Beautiful limestone cylinder seal engraved with the “Tree of Life,” one of the most favoured motifs in Neo-Assyrian culture. The sacred plant is here framed by an arch and a radiant halo, emphasising its sacred role within the cosmos. To the left and right of the tree stand two high-ranking dignitaries in a posture of worship, who at the same time appear to tend the plant. They wear shoulder-length hair and long, heavy wool garments finished at the hem with vertically pleated borders. Above the tree float the astral symbols of the crescent moon and a star, placing the scene within a cosmic context. For the “Tree of Life” motif with a radiant halo, see the cylinder seal in the British Museum with the registration number SOC.143.