Neo-Babylonian Cylinder Seal with Hero

Late 7th-Late 6th century BC. A carved banded carnelian cylinder seal with a hero between two bisons with human heads; an upright standing bearded man looking to the right with a tall round cap and in a tight ankle-length robe, leaving the right shoulder uncovered and ending with a ridge, over it a thin upper garment ending in fringes; with both arms, left and right angled away, he stems himself against two human head bisons (Akkadian: kusarikku; Sumerian: GUD.ALIM); they are in an antithetic position, standing upright, turning their heads backwards, and pressing him with their fore-bodies, while their faces, bearded in three stages, are shown in side view, their horns appear in front view; in the open field between the two kusarikk? stands an eight-pointed star above and below an unguentarium; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. For the bull-bison with human head cf. Black, S.J. and Green, A. Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia. An Illustrated Dictionary, London, 1992, p.44 (s.v. bison), and p.48f. (s.v. bull-man"). 9.37 grams, 37mm (1 1/2"). From a private collection of seals and amulets, the property of a Canadian gentleman living in London; from his father's collection formed in the late 1960s to 1980s.
Condition Report: Fine condition, chipped.