Old Babylonian Lapis Lazuli Cylinder Seal

Mesopotamia Ca. 1500 B.C. Carved with battling rampant animals amid stalks, pierced for suspension. Cylinder seals served multiple crucial functions in ancient Mesopotamian society:They acted as personal identification and professional credentials. They authenticated transactions and documents, similar to a modern signature. They prevented unauthorized access to containers and buildings.  They functioned as protective amulets and symbols of personal identity.The use of lapis lazuli for this seal was deeply significant for several reasons:  Lapis lazuli was considered a divine material associated with the night sky and celestial realm.The stone was believed to facilitate communication between mortals and deities.In Mesopotamian cosmology, lapis lazuli was thought to be a constituent element of the physical night sky.  The stone's rarity and importation from distant Afghanistan made it highly valuable.  Its use in official seals demonstrated the owner's elevated social status.The deep bl