A GRECO PERSIAN AGATE CYLINDER SEAL WITH A MAN AND WINGED BULL, CIRCA 520-440 B.C.

A Greco Persian cylinder seal made from agate and engraved with a standing man wearing a cloak and short tunic and wearing the crested helmet of Greek style. He is walking and raising his right hand in salute and he holds a short an axe in his left hand which is of a type that is used for animal sacrifice. In front of him is a winged bull kneeling on his front legs with his head bowed low. This scene might well represent the conflict between the Greeks and the Persians giving the subject matter. While most such representations show the triumph of Persians over Greeks this might be an exception.
Size: 22 mm. height, 11 mm. diam.
Weight: 5 grams.

CONDITION
Good condition.

PROVENANCE
Property of British Private Gentleman, acquired from an old English art collection in the 2000s. Believed previously to have been part of the Surena collection.

NOTES
"Seal 837 recalls Greek gems of the fifth century in its exquisite engraving and spacious background. It can be dated in that period by analogy with a seal impression on a tablet of the time of Darius and Xerxes (Philadelphia 833)."--Porada, CANES, p. 104