Cylinder Seal with Winged Genius and Human-headed Bulls
This seal shows an Assyrian winged genius between rampant, winged, human-headed bulls. All wear the horned headdress of deities and supernatural beings, and have long curled hair and beards. These semi-divine beings frequently appear on bas-reliefs (like those in the Kimbell's collection), and elsewhere in Assyrian art, especially in connection with the king. A deer is shown at a smaller scale in the space below the inscription. This text, in Assyrian cuneiform states: "Belonging to Nabu-apla-iddin, son of Bel-shuma-ibni... "
c. 700 B.C.
Blue chalcedony
4.0 x 4.0cm
AP 2001.04
Image and text © Kimbell Art Museum, 2018
Where you'll find this
Kimbell Art Museum
Permanent collection