The Cylinder Seals from Brak

E. Douglas van Buren

doi:10.2307/4241688

The Cylinder Seals from Brak

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 August 2014

E. Douglas van Buren

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The cylinder seals and seal impressions from Brak have an importance out of proportion to the quality of their workmanship. All the circumstances of their discovery are scrupulously recorded, a great help in determining the approximate date of each piece, and a sure guaranty against any suspicion of forgery. They may not all be of outstanding artistic merit, but a few seem to be unique in the choice of subjects reptesented, and almost every one of them can show some detail or peculiarity which is well worthy of study. Professor Mallowan in his catalogue describes and discusses these works of glyptic art, and his extensive knowledge of the subject, and his diligent researches enable him to make illuminating comparisons and to give suggestive explanations of the more difficult problems. He has, indeed, given us all the essential information and much more besides in his valuable and penetrating discussion. The seals, however, were only a small part of the immense mass of material which he, as excavator, had to set in order, study and describe. It is because his harvest is so rich and abundant that it seemed worth while to gather up stray gleanings dropped from his full sheaves, Knowing well that the few observations which can be contributed, will only render more evident the value and importance of what he has given us.

Type: Research Article
Information: IRAQ , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , Spring 1949 , pp. 59 - 76

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/4241688 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The British Institute for the Study of Iraq 1949

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^{page 75 note 2} McCown, Donald, Th Comparative Stratigraphy of Early Iran, p. 50Google Scholar, Table II.

^{page 76 note 1} As.32.934, Kh. II 41, and comparison might be made with the lower register of a seal from Lagash, C.C.O., T.87, Pl. 4, Fig. 5, where a vegetation-goddess presides over the scene. See also the limestone stele found in the Third Early Dynastic “Single Shrine” Temple of Abu at Tall Asmar, Frankfort, O.I.C. No. 17, p. 45, Fig. 40; Sculptures of the Third Millennium, pp. 48, 79, Pl. 112, A.199.

^{page 76 note 2} Frankfort, , Cyl. Seals, p. 75, Pl. XV, lGoogle Scholar.

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