Period:Unknown Production date:2ndC-3rdC (circa)
Materials:garnet
Technique:intaglio
Subjects:animal deity dragon
Dimensions:Length: 1.78 centimetres
Description:
Elliptical seal made of intaglio garnet. Shown is a female figure riding a lion. She has hair falling over her shoulders and wears a skirt and a heavy girdle. Her upper body is bare and in her left hand, she holds a staff or a standard. The lion is depicted with a wide-open mouth, a forked tongue and a curled up tail. The decoration could be a slightly modified representation of the goddess Cybele, who is normally shown as arriving in a lion-drawn chariot to the accompaniment of music, wine, and a disorderly, ecstatic following. Alternatively, it could be a representation of the Indian goddess Durga who also rides on a lion, or most likely the Central Asian deity Nana.
IMG
![图片[1]-seal BM-MAS.166-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/43/mid_01143771_001.jpg)
![图片[2]-seal BM-MAS.166-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/43/mid_01143773_001.jpg)
Comments:Stein, Serindia, p. 103, pl. V: “Yo.07. Elliptical garnet intaglio, plano-convex. A goddess (Durga?) astride a dragon advancing L. Goddess has hair falling over shoulders, quilted skirt, overskirt, heavy girdle, and carries in her L. hand a double pennant. Dragon is leonine with open jaws, forking floriate tongue and tail, heavy mane and fringed fore-legs. Fine work, polished in cutting. ¾ x 9/16 inch. Pl.V.”
Materials:garnet
Technique:intaglio
Subjects:animal deity dragon
Dimensions:Length: 1.78 centimetres
Description:
Elliptical seal made of intaglio garnet. Shown is a female figure riding a lion. She has hair falling over her shoulders and wears a skirt and a heavy girdle. Her upper body is bare and in her left hand, she holds a staff or a standard. The lion is depicted with a wide-open mouth, a forked tongue and a curled up tail. The decoration could be a slightly modified representation of the goddess Cybele, who is normally shown as arriving in a lion-drawn chariot to the accompaniment of music, wine, and a disorderly, ecstatic following. Alternatively, it could be a representation of the Indian goddess Durga who also rides on a lion, or most likely the Central Asian deity Nana.
IMG
Comments:Stein, Serindia, p. 103, pl. V: “Yo.07. Elliptical garnet intaglio, plano-convex. A goddess (Durga?) astride a dragon advancing L. Goddess has hair falling over shoulders, quilted skirt, overskirt, heavy girdle, and carries in her L. hand a double pennant. Dragon is leonine with open jaws, forking floriate tongue and tail, heavy mane and fringed fore-legs. Fine work, polished in cutting. ¾ x 9/16 inch. Pl.V.”
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