"It does seem to indicate the balancing of forces of nature."
Curator Yelena Rakic on Akkadian cylinder seals.
Explore this object:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/323869
Throughout 2013, The Met invited curators from across the Museum to each talk about one artwork that changed the way they see the world.
Photography by Paul Lachenauer
Modern impression of the seal courtesy of Shawn Osborne
Subscribe for new content from The Met: https://www.youtube.com/user/metmuseum?sub_confirmation=1
#TheMet #ArtExplained #Art
How Akkadian cylinder seals served as ancient signatures
"It does seem to indicate the balancing of forces of nature."
Yelena Rakic
2 min. watch
Contributors
Yelena Rakic
Associate Curator, Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art
Associate Curator, Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art
More from The Met

How do Lee Bul’s sculptures hold space for critical remembrance to show how the past shapes our present?
Anne Anlin Cheng
May 16

Video

The artist’s work challenges the social and political context of mass incarceration.
Lisa Sutcliffe
April 28
More in:Art Explained
Art Mentioned
A slider containing 1 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.