Cylinder Seal Showing the Sun God’s Journey in a Boat
Shell
Akkadian Period, ca. 2300-2155 B.C.
Tell Asmar, Houses IVa.
Excavated by the Oriental Institute, 1932
OIM A11396

The cylinder seal, on the right, is shown with a sample of what the image carved on the seal looks like when rolled out onto clay. Here, the sun god - rays emanating from his shoulders - journeys by water in a fantastic vessel. Another deity, who forms the prow of the boat poles it along as the sun god steers. Also travelling with the sun god is a human-headed lion, which has been tied to the prow. Floating in the air above the lion are a plow, a spouted vase with a handle, and two objects, one of which is perhaps a bag of seed. Behind the boat stands a figure representing the goddess of vegetation. She is characterized by ears of grain, which grow from her robe while she holds a flowering branch. The exact meaning of this scene is not known. It suggests a metaphorical journey indicating the relationship of the life-giving rays of the sun to the growth of vegetation and the flourishing of crops.

This seal is typical of the thousands of cylinder seals unearthed at ancient Mesopotamian sites. Depictions on seals sometimes illustrate the mythic traditions that were part of this great civilization's literary heritage. Along with myths, Mesopotamian literary works include epics, folktales, prayers, hymns, proverbs, personal letters, and fables.

The finest literary work from ancient Mesopotamia is the Epic of Gilgamesh. Originally recited aloud, this towering work was probably recorded on clay tablets around 2000 B.C., more than one thousand years before the Iliad and the Odyssey were recorded in writing. Gilgamesh is a long narrative poem that describes the deeds of a hero in his quest for identity and the meaning of life. Part man and part god, Gilgamesh deals with such universal themes as the meaning of friendship; fear of sickness, death, and the forces of evil; and the search for immortality.