Cylinder Seal

CBS Register: lapis cyl. seal. two registers. Old Sumer. Banquet. R. Cemt. no. 27

UE II: Cylinder seal, lapis-lazuli.

PG 337 was the first royal tomb found by Woolley, and although it was small and had been plundered in antiquity, he determined from its contents that it was clearly a royal grave. In addition to the bodies of three victims, the tomb contained a pile of personal jewelry that was essentially identical to that of the most elaborately adorned women found in tombs uncovered later. Among the personal adornments Woolley found was this cylinder seal, carved of lapis lazuli with a double-register banquet scene. Apart from the fineness of its carving, the virtually identical images in the two registers distinguish this seal. In both register, seated male celebrants gesture with raised cups toward standing servants. Unique to this lower register is a tall table bearing breads and a haunch of meat.