Stamp seal
Unknown Artist
ca. 3rd–7th century CE
Medium
Agate
Dimensions
0.51 x 0.75 x 0.71 in. (1.3 x 1.91 x 1.8 cm)
Classification
Stone-Stamp Seals
Culture & Period
Sasanian · Sasanian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.4413
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite stamp seal, crafted from agate during the Sasanian period (ca. 3rd–7th century CE), exemplifies artistry of ancient Near Eastern. Belonging to the Sasanian Empire—a Persian dynasty that bridged the classical and medieval worlds—these small stone objects (just 0.51 x 0.75 x 0.71 inches) were tools for sealing documents, goods, and clay bullae in administrative, trade, and personal contexts. Carved with precision, the seal's intaglio design likely features animal motifs, a hallmark of Sasanian iconography symbolizing power, protection, and the natural world revered in Zoroastrian-...