Cylinder seal

Art Historical Context

This exquisite cylinder seal, crafted from green glazed steatite around 1640–1550 B.C., hails from Egypt's Second Intermediate Period (asties 13–17). This era was marked by political fragmentation, with native Egyptian rulers in the south clashing against Hyksos invaders from the East in the north. The seal's small size— just 2.3 cm long—belies its practical power: rolled across soft clay, it imprinted intricate designs to authenticate documents, goods, or tombs, serving as a ancient signature of authority. The choice of steatite, a soft soapstone easily carved into fine details, then glazed ...