Assyria was a major ancient Mesopotamian civilisation, initially starting off as a city-state before becoming an empire from the 14th to the 7th century BC. As the Empire expanded across Mesopotamia, art gained influences from different conquered civilisations. By the Neo-Assyrian period, the Assyrian Empire had come to dominate ancient Mesopotamia, and, as the Empire expanded, Assyrian art began to incorporate the different materials, techniques, and styles of its conquered territories. This winged anthropomorphic figure might have been a syncretic combination of Assyrian winged-genies, deities usually associated with protection, life and kingship within the Assyrian religion. Also Hittite single or double-headed eagles, which were popular motifs, tied to royalty and were often portrayed with wings wide open above prey animals in a similar position as seen on this seal.
To discover more about stamp seals, please visit our blog: Making their Mark: A Concise Guide to Western Asiatic Stamp Seals
