Cylinder seal
Unknown Artist
ca. 15th–13th century BCE
Medium
Hematite
Dimensions
H. 13/16 in. (2.1 cm); Diam. 3/8 in. (0.9 cm)
Classification
Stone-Cylinder Seals
Culture & Period
Mitanni · Mitanni
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in memory of Charles Dikran and Beatrice Kelekian, 1999
Accession Number
1999.325.184
Art Historical Context
This petite hematite cylinder seal, just 13/16 inch (2.1 cm) in height and 3/8 inch (0.9 cm) in diameter, offers a window into the sophisticated world of the Mitanni around 1500–1200 BCE. Flourishing in northern Mesopotamia and Syria, Mitanni was a Hurrian-speaking power known for its chariotry, diplomacy with Egypt and Hittites, and vibrant artistic traditions blending Mesopotamian influences with local flair. As a classic stone-cylinder seal from the Ancient Near world, it exemplifies tools vital to daily administration and elite identity. Carved in intaglio—a technique where designs are in...