Cylinder Seal

CBS Register: seal cylinder, serpentinizing basalt or serpentine

PBS XIV: The worshiping of Ishtar. She steps forth surrounded by a halo of clubs or arrows, one hand lifted in sign of blessing, the other holding a necklace or diadem. She has quivers with bow and arrows hung crosswise on her shoulders, a feather mitre, her long hair handing on her back, a short tunic and flounced shawl girded about and opening in front to let pass her bare leg. In front of her, fire is burning in a grate like recipient on a columnar altar with a knob or ring on one side, probably a censer with charcoal. On the other side a bearded worshiper adores with one hand up. He has a cylindrical mitre, heavy hair tied in a mass, a robe with zones of fringes.

On the reverse there is a spear of Marduk with tassel ornaments on a two tiered base or ziggurat. The two nails across the shaft may be emblems of Nabu. The Igigi or heavenly spirits are the seven dots or stars above. Cyl. seal. Black diorite, 26 1/2 x 12 mm.