Ancient Bactrian Alabaster Cylinder Seal

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Ancient Bactrian Alabaster Cylinder Seal

A rare ancient alabaster cylinder seal depicting a dynamic hunting scene featuring a hunter, lion, horse, and birds. Excavated in the region of North Afghanistan, once part of the ancient Kingdom of Bactria, this finely carved seal reflects the rich artistic traditions and symbolic imagery of the ancient Near East and Central Asia.

Cylinder seals served both practical and ceremonial functions, often used to impress images onto clay as signatures, marks of ownership, or symbols of authority. The detailed narrative composition carved around the surface demonstrates the skill of the artisan and provides a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and mythological world of the period.

As an authentic artifact from the second to first millennium BCE, this piece represents an important example of ancient glyptic art and would make a significant addition to any collection of antiquities or early civilizations.