Mesopotamia has been regarded as the cradle of ancient glyphic arts with the earliest cylinder seal proven to be first executed in Bronze Age Mesopotamia. The earliest cylinder seals can be dated as early as the fourth millennium BC. Since the fashion of engraving naturalistic images on precious and semi-precious stones began (Circa 3500 BC), each historical period contributed different significant aesthetic styles and technical developments to revive Mesopotamian glyptic arts. Iconographies and religious scenes, seen on Early Dynastic seals, are renowned for the elaborate contest scenes, that usually portray nude heroes confronting bull-men or rampant, roaring lions.
