Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 8 pages
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
This seal depicts a figure seated, arms extended, in front of an offering table topped with bread. Two quadrupeds, possibly dogs, stand behind the figure. The seal is inscribed with early hieroglyphic signs on either side of the figure. Some signs are identifiable but currently not understandable, and they probably indicate the figure’s uncertain name. This scene type with the deceased sitting at an offering table is included in funerary stelae and on tomb walls throughout ancient Egyptian history. The seal is pierced lengthwise so as to be worn as a personal ornament that acted as both a marker of status and a protective charm. This seal dates to the beginning of the Egyptian state during the First Dynasty or the early Second Dynasty (ca. 2960-2649 BCE). Administrative cylinder seals also existed during this early period, however based on the known provenance of many of these seal-types—non-royal tombs—this seal’s function was most likely to help maintain the deceased’s funerary cult rather than to act as an administrative tool.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
27487
label
Cylinder Seal with Offering Scene and Hieroglyphs
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
8
Source metadata
id
27487
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Cylinder Seal with Offering Scene and Hieroglyphs
description
This seal depicts a figure seated, arms extended, in front of an offering table topped with bread. Two quadrupeds, possibly dogs, stand behind the figure. The seal is inscribed with early hieroglyphic signs on either side of the figure. Some signs are identifiable but currently not understandable, and they probably indicate the figure’s uncertain name. This scene type with the deceased sitting at an offering table is included in funerary stelae and on tomb walls throughout ancient Egyptian history. The seal is pierced lengthwise so as to be worn as a personal ornament that acted as both a marker of status and a protective charm. This seal dates to the beginning of the Egyptian state during the First Dynasty or the early Second Dynasty (ca. 2960-2649 BCE). Administrative cylinder seals also existed during this early period, however based on the known provenance of many of these seal-types—non-royal tombs—this seal’s function was most likely to help maintain the deceased’s funerary cult rather than to act as an administrative tool.
provenance
Joseph Abemayor, Cairo, [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1930, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 2960-2649 BCE (Early Dynastic)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Precious Stones & Gems
cylinder seals
imageCount
8
pageCount
8
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
1.3
height
1.1
dimensionsRaw
H: 1/2 x Diam: 7/16 in. (1.27 x 1.1 cm)
Source extras
cul
Egyptian
inscriptions
[Inscription]
dynasty
1st-2nd Dynasty
med
steatite
creator_ids
6182
collection_ids
EGY
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
c0c80d3407e74e10
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
c9aabb1c9ec511d8
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
9eaeada98ded1100
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
5e09238e356c9347
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
5
type
photo
mediaId
3b6fd9d591ca0fd3
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
6
type
photo
mediaId
0fb91e44cbf71f07
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
7
type
photo
mediaId
95e896ce7b463de3
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
8
type
photo
mediaId
e3d4b24d985ef71e
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no