Cylinder seal
Unknown Artist
ca. 6th–5th century BCE
Medium
Calcite
Dimensions
0.91 in. (2.31 cm)
Classification
Stone-Cylinder Seals
Culture & Period
Achaemenid · Achaemenid
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Martin and Sarah Cherkasky, 1986
Accession Number
1986.311.54
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite cylinder seal, crafted around the 6th–5th century BCE during the Achaemenid period, hails from the vast Persian that stretched from the Indus Valley to the Mediterranean. Achaemenid cylinder seals this one were ingenious administrative tools: rolled across wet clay, they left a raised impression to authenticate documents, secure goods, or mark ownership, blending artistry with everyday bureaucracy in one of antiquity's greatest empires. Carved from translucent calcite—a durable, prized stone—this diminutive gem measures just 0.91 inches (2.31 cm) tall, showcasing the remarkable...