Originally an offering at the shrine of a powerful deity, this votive seal was discovered with a cache of related artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. The cult most likely centered around a nature god, one concerned with fertility and rebirth. This abstract animal, perhaps a turtle, maybe a quail, was most likely worn as an amulet by a worshipper. The intaglio on the base depicts a waterfowl and may have stood in proxy for more a costly sacrifice. Pressed into soft wax or clay, it would have created multiple images to please the deity. Abstract and elegant yet closely observant of nature, this remarkable seal evokes a vanished world at the dawn of Western culture. - (D.0178)Zoomorphic Votive Seal With An Intaglio - D.0178Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 1"(2.5cm)highx1.875"(4.8cm)depth Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite

Antiquities
Ancient Near East