Thisancientvotivesealwasdiscoveredwithacacheofsimilarartifactsalongtheshoresof Lake Van.Evokingthedawnof Westernculture,theseapparentlywereofferingsattheshrineofsomepowerfulgod.Thisunknowndeityappearstohavebeenassociatedwithfertilityandrebirth Thedesignthatadornstheofstoodinproxyformorecostlysacrifices.Pressedintosoftclayorwax,theywouldhavecreatedmultipleimagestowinthefavorofthegod.Carvedwithanabstractsimplicitybutanobservanteyetowardnature,thestarkvisuappealofthispieceistimeless Thesesealsrepresentdreams,hopesandaspirationsforhealth,success,andhappinessthatareasoldascivilizationitself.v-(D.0139)Engraved Votive Sealwithan Intaglio D.0139Origin:Lake Van,Anatolia Circa:4000BCto3000BCDimension1.75(4.4cm)highx1(2.5cm)widex75"(1.9cm)depth Collection:Near Eastern Style:Neolithic Medium: Dickite

Antiquities
Ancient Near East