Semi-precious

The term “semi precious” is applied to a subset gemstones, and the term was created to set them apart from what are considered precious stones (diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds). Things like amber and lapis lazuli, which are not really stones at all are still considered “semi precious” by most people. This distinction reflects the rarity of the respective stones in ancient times, as well as their quality. all are translucent with fine color in their purest forms and very hard. This distinction is not related to their monetary value, i.e. some forms of garnet are more expensive than emeralds.

Objects: Semi-precious Export: JSON - XML - CSV Clay Seals and Sealings

U Number	Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number)	Museum Number (BM Registration Number)	Museum Number (UPM B-number)	Description (Catalog Card)
9652	(none)	(none)	B16857	Cylinder seal Dark steatite A hero fighting a bull (or wild oryx)? and a lion and a bull fighting.
9587	(none)	(none)	B16948	Cylinder seal Steatite Green 2 seated deities both sucking straws, the ends of which are in a vase of the champagne type. Behind one throne a standing attendant and behind him a star? on a vertical staff.
9586	(none)	(none)	B16947	Cylinder Seal Haematite Black Seated god greeting 2 other divinities who approach bearing offerings? All wearing the horned headdress. Behind throne a palm tree? Attribute: Cresent moon.
9502	(none)	(none)	B16873, B16873	Cylinder seal Green ston A hero fighting a lion and a second fighting a long-horned bull (?): between the animals a star and crescent, between the men a single column of inscription. A-ki-ru-um. (HC.202)
9298	(none)	(none)	B17012	Cylinder seal Green stone Gilgamesh and Eabani
9263	(none)	(none)	B16855	Cylinder seal Steatite Black Geometric decoration
9262	(none)	(none)	B16860	Cylinder seal Steatite Green. Slightly concave. A god standing between two portals, the left foot raised and resting upon the mountain top, the right foot rigid- as if in the attitude of ascending? His left hand is upraised and in it he holds a feather whisk?? His head is turned backward in contemplation of a minute human figure crouching in the attitude of subjection. The god's right hand is extended immediately above the head of the victim that he has crushed. Oblique to the go are three concentric wavy lines above the right shoulder - possibly representing lightening? The god wears a horned headdress. A second god also wearing a horned headdress, long hair falling below the shoulders and ending in a knot? and a skirt descending to the feet, approaches one of the portals and touches it with hands as if about to open it.
9183	(none)	(none)	B16854	Cylinder seal Lapis, with gold caps (the latter rather broken). Subject: Gilgamesh and Eabani.
9092B	(none)	(none)	B17490	Copper pin [A]. Thickened head and short tang. Onto the stem is corroded a small lapis cylinder seal [B](engraved conoid with animal figures) which must have hung from the hole in the stem of the pin. [Type I]
9064	(none)	(none)	B16898	Cylinder seal Lapis lazuli Silver core Gilgamesh and Enkidu fighting rampant lion and rampant bull respectively.
8981	(none)	(none)	B16852	Cylinder Seal. Lapis. 2 registers: below: 1 man, fighting animals. Above, human figure with rampant animals on each side and inscription of NIN-TUR-NIN.
8926	(none)	(none)	B16888	Cylinder seal. Lapis Lazuli. 2 registers. Above: 1 seated and 2 standing figures. Below: men [illegible] animals
8917	(none)	(none)	B16867	Cylinder seal. Green Stone Above, string pattern [drawing] Below, 2 seated and 2 standing gods
8714	(none)	(none)	B17033	Cylinder seal. Crystal. Two registers. Above: Male figure approaching from behind a lion? in front of the lion a fallen gazelle and in front of the gazelle a winged dragon. Below: A winged dragon, and second similar? and a rampant gazelle?
8615	(none)	(none)	B16828	Cylinder seal. Lapis. 2 registers: above: three seated deities(?) with a worshipper in front of each. Below: door: 3 seated and 3 standing figures. Archaic style.
8416	(none)	(none)	B16870	Cylinder seal. Steatite. Green. Small piece missing near one end. Inscribed. Slightly concave. Two rampant lions back to back. Each is attacked by a naked bearded and horned hero. Between the 2 lions tails 3 vertical lines with rounded heads standing above a pair of spread wings? - thus [drawing]
8053	(none)	(none)	B16866	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two registers. Above: two seated deities with an attendant between them & facing one of them, two worshippers. Below: a door? a seated deity & 3 worshippers. Very archaic style, figures with birdlike heads.
8006	(none)	(none)	B16889	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. 2 registers: above, 2 seated figures, table and door. Below, 2 animals? Very deep cutting and most primitive style.
7956	(none)	(none)	B16856	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli: tall slender type broken in antiquity; mended. Two registers: above, 2 worshipers approaching a seated goddess with crescent. Below, 3 worshipers approaching a seated goddess with star; behind her a tree.
7896	(none)	(none)	B16883	Cylinder seal. hematite. Black. Hero wearing conical cap and short garment which only falls to the knees, and carrying a bird? in his left hand approaches a standing deity wearing high headdress and flounced kaunakes skirt. Behind the hero, naked Ishtar.
775	(none)	(none)	B15248	Carnelian cylinder seal. Archer in chariot driving rt. shoots at kneeling archer l. Late style with a good deal of drill point work, but not bad. ? 8th century.
7641	(none)	(none)	B16861	Cylinder seal. Green stone. Slightly concave. Broken in antiquity but remended and complete. Gilgamesh and Enkidu back to back the former fighting a rampant bull the latter fighting a rampant lion.
7552	(none)	(none)	B16885, B16885	Cylinder seal. hematite. Black. Inscribed. Scene of worship. Shamash standing with left foot on raised step, right foot on ground, left hand raised to greet heavily draped male figure whose left shoulder is bare. Behind a goddess wearing flounced kaunakes skirt with hands upraised, and behind goddess AIA? a warrior with a bent staff carried in right arm. Below the inscription a Simish. Attributes: crescent and moon and Simish. Inscription: ^dBABBAR(^ilSumas): ^dA-A(^ilAia).
7046	(none)	(none)	B16305	Cylinder seal. Black hematite. Scene of worship. Votary introduced by minor god to Nannar. Attributes. Seated dog with crooked stick of Martu on his head. Libra and Ampulla. 1st Babylonian dynasty About 2000 BC
6988	(none)	(none)	B16302	Seal. Amethyst. Blue-violet. Flat on one side, convex on the other but not completely rounded, apex top. Hawk with spread wings, legs crossed in middle of breast. Neo-Babylonian. E.