Stamp seal (scarab) with two-figure contest scene

Art Historical Context

This exquisite stamp seal, carved from vibrant greenstone, dates to the second half of the 8th–7th century during the Neo-Assyrian Neo-Babylonian in ancient Mesopotamia. Shaped like a scarab—a form often borrowed from Egyptian iconography—the seal measures just 1.29 x 1.03 cm on its face, small enough to wear as an amulet or press into soft clay for authenticating documents, goods, or ownership. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's renowned Cesnola Collection, it reflects the sophisticated artistry of Assyro-Babylonian culture, where such seals blended practicality with symbolic power. Th...