Originally an offering at the shrine of a powerful deity,this votive seal was discovered with a cache of related artifacts along the shores of Lake Van in Turkey.The cult most likely centered around a nature god, one concerned with fertility and rebirth. Birds were clearly important to this cult, perhaps being associated with.This is an extremely fine example of early animals culture.Depicting a stylized bird,its base bears the intaglio image of a seated idol.Pressed into soft wax or clay,it would have created multiple images to please the deity. Abstract and elegant yet closely observant of nature, this remarkable seal evokes a vanished world at the dawn of Western culture. - (D.0041)Bird Effigy Votive Seal With An Intaglio-D.0041Origin:Lake Van,Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC Dimensions: 2.25" (5.7cm) high x 3.5" (8.9cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style:Neolithic Medium: Dickite

Antiquities
Ancient Near East