Cylinder Seal

CBS Register: Babylonian seal cylinder, hematite

PBS XIV: The worshiping of Shamash. A worshiper in turban and fringed shawl brings a kid. The usual divine attendant adores with both hands up. Behind the god a bareheaded servant in short embroidered loin cloth carries the pail and libation vase. He stands above the ground, at the level of the ziggurat on which Shamash rests his leg, as if performing the rites at sun rise.

On the reverse there are two figures like Martu and Ishtar but with no symbolic weapons in hand. Martu steps forth, one arm hanging, the other folded, but with no club. Ishtar has the horned mitre, hair tied in a loop, cross straps over the shoulders, plaited shawl girded about, and opening in front to let pass her bare leg resting on a small lion. She carries perhaps an axe on one shoulder. She merely represents the wife of Martu. Concave cyl. seal. Hematite, 23 ½ x 13 ½ mm