KH.20.O.132

KH.20.O.132

Cylinder seal retrieved from the second phase of use in the Late Bronze II monumental building in the north-western sector of the acropolis mound (the other seal from the area is Cat. no. 21). It was found in the collapse layer (F.10753) over a floor (L.9839) in the south-western wing. The seal is made of whitish faience (a silica-based vitreous material) and features a complex scene, in a style of the so-called Common-style glyptic tradition (see Salje 1990; Porada and Collon 2016: 87-90, pls. 16-18). This includes a standing, apparently naked hero, bearded, wearing a rounded cap and a chignon on the back of the neck. He holds, with his left hand, an oryx with long horns by one hind leg. In front of the personage, on the upper register, there is a schematic winged sun (or a bird with spread wings), next to a couchant winged griffin and a couple of recumbent four-legged quadrupeds, an ibex looking backwards to the left and a gazelle to the right. In the lower register, there are two slain (?) male figures. The head and eyes of the animals are made by centre-dot circles, while the bodies and legs are formed by slender lines that contribute to the general dynamism of the scene. Overall, the iconography, style and composition are close to Mittani style seals and seal impressions from Tell Munbaqa (Werner 2004: 10-14, pls. 9-11), Alalakh (Collon 1982: 87-90, nos. 64-67) and Ugarit (Schaeffer-Forrer 1983: 150-155, nos. RS.25.254-255, 380,385; Amiet 1992: 35-36, nos. 53-54).

Karkemish

AA

F.10753

Acropolis

Late Bronze

Faiance cylinder seal

diam. 1.0; h. 2.1 cm (perf. diam. 0.3 cm)