Glyptics
IB 466
Gemdet-Nasr, white limestone: Three rows of pattern.
IB 250
Early Dynastic, shell: Two seated figures in front of a temple.
IB 1840
Akkadian, chlorite: Seated god and goddess drinking with straws, between them a big vessel.
Straws were only used for consuming beer; a filter at the tip ensuring the beverage to be free of bitterns.
IB 1959
Isin-Larsa, hematite: Introductory scene; worshipper in front of a seated god.
Introductory scene: worshipper being presented to a seated god by an introducing goddess. Additionally, kings and gods had a foot stool. The seating furniture of gods often looked like the facade of a temple.
IB 133
Old Babylonian, hematite: Standing god and goddess, inscription.
IB 717
Kassite/Isin II, frit: Two griffins flanking the Sacred Tree.
Stamp and cylinder seals
Stamp and cylinder seals as elements of the glyptics are a specific Mesopotamian feature beginning in the late 4th millennium. Sealing was practiced to secure the unchanged state of written documents, content of containers or the seals were used as amulets. Those from Isin attest among others the long durance of the site’s existence. Mesopotamian archaeological sites yielded plenty of exemplars, as impressions or sealings or as original seals from different materials like stone, clay, frit. A wide range of motives is displayed, but also an inscription can replace the depiction more or less.
Contexts: Only a few of the glyptic products found in Isin have been recovered from meaningful contexts. These were living quarters as well as the temple area and burials. Due to the small number, no conclusions on the distribution were possible.
Find spots
Early Dynastic Building, Room 2, Akkadian seal, black limestone; goddess receiving worshippers, presented by a goddess.
Courtyard B of Gula-Temple, Kassite seal, black marble; worshipper to the right, inscription.
Burial No. 44, clay sarcophagus, 4 late Babylonian stamp seals, agate, carnelian, and frit; figure to the right of the altar (above left), worshipper at stand (above right).
