Audio Guide Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus

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Cylinder seal of Ibni-sharrum, a scribe of Shar-kali-sharri (left) and impression (right), ca. 2183–2159 B.C.; Akkadian, reign of Shar-kali-sharri. Mesopotamia. Cuneiform inscription in Old Akkadian. Serpentine; H. 3.9 cm (1 1/2 in.); Diam. 2.6 cm (1 in.). Musée du Louvre, Département des Antiquités Orientales, Paris  AO 22303.

Paul Collins
Look closely: this particularly beautiful cylinder seal shows us the epitome of fine Akkadian carving. As well it should: its inscription—contained in the rectangle on the animals' back—says that the seal belonged to king Shar-kali-sharri's scribe. Look at the modern impression made from the seal, and notice the muscles articulated on the men's bodies. They pour water from sacred pots, to quench the thirst of two water buffalo. But water buffalo were not native to Mesopotamia! These animals are depicted in a manner typical of imagery from the Indus Valley, in present-day Pakistan. This seal is a favorite of the curator of this exhibition, Joan Aruz:

Joan Aruz
If there is one object in this show that embodies the concepts that we have been trying to illuminate in this exhibit, I would have to say it's the seal of the scribe of Shar-kali-sharri. An exquisite work of art, miniature in size, monumental in effect, combining imagery that derives, perhaps, from the Indus Valley; executed in a style that expresses the highest artistic achievements of the art of the third millennium B.C.

The audio clips in this section were produced by Antenna Audio. The Audio Guide is available for rental in the exhibition galleries. For more information, see Events & Programs. The Audio Guide program is sponsored by Bloomberg.