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

U Number	Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number)	Museum Number (BM Registration Number)	Museum Number (UPM B-number)	Description (Catalog Card)
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.
17656	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. 2 registers: above, longest scene with 2 seated figures drinking through tubes and 1 standing attendant. Below, eagle grasping 2 gazelles.
18279	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. 2 registers: above, presentation scene with seated goddess and 2 standign figures. Below, swans. Poorly shaped and poorly cut: much worn.
7985	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. 2 registers: above, seated goddess with attendant behind receives a worshipper and a seated god with attendant below receives a worshipper. Below: banquet scene; 2 seated figures drinking through tubes; attendant behind one, design like a hatched shield.
12041	30-12-16	(none)	(none)	Cylinder Seal. Lapis Lazuli. 2 registers: Animals. Poorly cut. Stags galloping.
18365	33-35-176	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. 3 standing figures.
7955	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. A tree, and 4 animals, 2 facing each way the central pair facing: rather poor engraving.
16122	31-43-50	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Banquet scene, 2 seated figures drinking from a common cup out of tubes. Behind one of them a standing figure. Poor cutting.
11112	(none)	(none)	B16880	Cylinder Seal. Lapis lazuli. Bird headed men fighting bearded bulls and gazelles. One hero wears a four pronged comb at back of head.
7657	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Blue. 2 registers. Bangquet scene. Above: seated god holding food? in upright left hand. nest a second seated figure holding up left hand to greet a standing attendant. Third seated figure also holding food in upraised left hand, and standing figure also holding food? opposite. All are shaven and shorn and wear sheep skin dresses. Below: A seated figure holding up hand towards door of shrine? Behind him a second seated figure holding up food which has been handed him by standing attendant. Behind this seated god a standing attendant facing the door of the shrine hands upraised. All have heads shaven and shorn and sheep skin dresses like figures on top register. c. 3000BC.
7664	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Blue. 2 registers. Top register: scene of worship. Goddess wearing high horned headdress leads votary by the hand towards seated god who wears flat headdress with horns. Botom: 3 swans swimming on water.
55	(none)	1923,1110.191	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Broken in half and chipped down one side. Scene: 3 figures in a row advancing l[eft]. Found with beads round neck of body in larnax burial.
54	(none)	1923,1110.190	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Engraved with scene of worshipper being introduced to a god standing in front of a gate.
12032	(none)	1929,1017.390	(none)	Cylinder Seal. Lapis Lazuli. Exceptionally minute (Palm?) tree, deities, & 2 (snakes?) or running water?
17311	(none)	1931,1010.37	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Fragment. Two registers. Above. Palm on a high vase, one one side seated figure saluting, on the other a standing figure saluting. Below. Geese (?)
6288	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Fragmentary. Swans and inscription. Lal-e pa son of Ur dGish. B.
11825	30-12-1	(none)	(none)	Cylinder Seal. Lapis Lazuli. Gazelle attacked by bull, & gazelle attacked by 2 bulls. Inscription: Su-sikil(?) DINGER-SES-AB lugal-ni Kalam-dug-dam. We expect dam-Kalam-dug and perhaps this is possible. ni is written between lines 2 &3, and dam between lines 3 & 4, but both at the end (right). Provisional translation: -Pure Hand (=Handmaid ?) of Nannar (new ideogram.) her King. Kalam-dug-dam (or Dam-Kalam-dug =Wife of the good land).
20062	(none)	1935,0112.39	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Geometrical design.
16399	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Gilgamesh and Eabani fighting rampant lion.
8417	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Inscribed but obliterated. Bearded hero attacking rampant bull and second hero with high horns and bulls feet attacking rampant lion.
9010	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis Lazuli. Inscribed: Gilgamesh and Enkidu fighting rampant lion and rampant bull respectively. [The following is probably a later addition to the card] Legend: Ur-Igi-gal; servant of Igi-gal or of the Seer (?)
17904	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Introductory scene, 2 standing figures, seated deity; 3 lines of erased inscription.
7957	(none)	1928,1009.40	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Introductory scene, standing god, minor god and worshipper. Poor engraving.
9027	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Man-headed bearded bull crossed with lion rampant. On one side a spotted leopard?, on the other side a gazelle, both rampant. A grotesque male figure grasps the leopard by the tail. This figure wears a tiara? This is represented by 4 engraved lines having the appearance of plumes over the head. Behind the gazelle near the top of the seal, a small grotesque figure resting upon one knee. Coarse second-rate cutting.
13513	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Pair of warriors back to back each fighting a rampant lion.