Seals, means of proving the ownership of a person
Istanbul Archaeology Museums, TurkeySeal
A seal is a means of proving the ownership of a person or an institution on property.
Humans have felt the need of using seals after the development of their sense of ownership. In cultural history this happened in the Neolithic Period.
The most important characteristic of seal is the fact that it has certain qualities differentiating it from others.
Seals were made from unprecious and semi-precious stones, ivory, bone, antler, various metals (copper, lead, silver, gold), bronze, wood and clay; of frit, faience and glass.
Stamp seals:
In cultural history, the first and the most used seals in Near Eastern lands from the beginning to our day are the stamp seals.
Cylinder seals:
It is a type of seal created by the Sumerians and brought by them to Mesopotamia. The cylinder made from different material, would have a longitudinally drilled hole at the center. On the outside a scene is carved negatively so that when the cylinder is rolled on wet clay surface, a band is achieved with infinite possibility of reliefs.
In the Old Summerian Period the first seals belonged to the temple. In time, governors kings, high palace officials and scribes also began to have seals. Stating with the old Babylonian Period, every free person had the right to own a seal.
Clay Sealings were used in various ways for various purposes
In history, ever since the Chalcolithic Period, when complicated trade developed, pottery containers have been sealed with clay bullae. The merchandise within the containers was thus secured, because without breaking the sealed bullae one could not handle the contents of these pottery vessels. This was a trade guarantee.
Generally the mouth of the container vessel would be closed with a piece of leather or cloth, then tied with string. The soft clay, ready prepared, would be plastered on the string with fingers and then sealed.
The jugs would be closed with a clay stopper in the mouth and then the stopper would be sealed at the top to secure the contents.
Some vessels would be sealed with a stamp or a cylinder seal on the outside as a sign of ownership. Apart from this, sealing was used also on weights, hearths and metal tools, with decorative purposes, as trade mark and sign of ownership.
Bullae: they were like the lead sealing of the postal parcels and boxes of our day. They were used for security against unauthorised openings. Grain transported in sacks or supplies kept in chests, jars and other containers would be tied by a string on the outside, the ends of it secured by passing through a piece of clay which was sealed. This operation was also used on some vessels for security.
With the widespead us of writing, seals have acquired a legal function and written documents like contracts, letters, receipts, etc. were authenticated with the seals of the parties and the witnesses.
Some seals were kept as votive objects in temples or used in sacraed walls or altars. On some prayers and dedications to a god are inscribed.
Seals were also used for magic. What they were used against is related with their material and the scenes depicted.
Supplementary images:
Seals - means of proving the ownership of a person or an institution on property
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