Description:

Western Asia, modern day Iran, Proto-Elamite (Susa III), ca. 3400 to 3200 BCE. A very rare, fascinating steatite seal stamp of rectangular form, raised suspension "bail" drilled horizontally for suspension on a cord, and decorated with a standing winged horse, wings outstretched over its back; long, thin body and legs showing motion of the mythical beast. Size: .625" L x .5" H (1.6 cm x 1.3 cm)

From the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative at the University of Oxford: "Proto-Elamite is the last un-deciphered writing system from the Ancient Near East with a substantial number of sources (more than 1600 published texts). It was used for a relatively short period around 3000 BC across what is today Iran. Proto-Elamite is a derived writing system originating from the Uruk invention of writing in southern Mesopotamia during the middle of the 4th millennium BC. Scribes in Susa in southwestern Iran took over a majority of the numerical signs as well as many of the numerical systems from the older proto-cuneiform system."

Provenance: private Corpus Christi, Texas, USA estate collection, acquired 1960s to 1970s

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#165309

  • Condition: Intact and excellent, surface smooth from years of use.

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May 18, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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