Neo-Babylonian Serpentine Cylinder Seal with Battle scene decoration - 1.3 cm (No reserve price)

Cylinder seals were small, engraved objects used in ancient Mesopotamia for rolling an impression onto clay tablets or envelopes as a signature or administrative tool. This Neo-Babylonian serpentine cylinder seal, measuring just over 1 cm, features an intricately carved battle scene, indicative of the period's artistic themes and social emphasis on warfare and power. Serpentine, a fine-grained greenish stone, was favored for such seal carvings due to its smooth texture. The Neo-Babylonian era, spanning roughly 626–539 BCE, was marked by a renaissance in arts and culture. Cylinder seals like this one provide valuable information about political events, mythologies, and daily life while serving as personal or official identifiers in complex bureaucratic systems.