Sumerian and Early Akkadian Motifs
25 symbols · PDF / PNG / SVG · Commercial licence included
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25 symbols
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Reed-Bundle Ring-Post with Streamer (MUŠ3, Inanna) — Documented Sumerian Motif, Late Uruk–Jemdet Nasr
Bound reed bundle folded into a loop with hanging stalk-ends: the Late Uruk–Jemdet Nasr ring-post with streamer, read as proto-cuneiform MUŠ3 and used as Inanna’s precinct marker.
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Recumbent Crescent (Nanna/Sîn) — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Old Babylonian
Isolated horns-up crescent used on Early Dynastic to Old Babylonian seals as the moon emblem of Nanna (Sumerian) / Sîn (Akkadian).
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Rayed Solar Disk (Utu/Shamash šamšatu) — Documented Akkadian Motif, Akkadian–Old Babylonian
Akkadian–Old Babylonian šamšatu: a disc formed as a four-pointed star with wavy or curved rays in the intervals, the solar emblem of Utu/Shamash.
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Imdugud (lion-headed eagle) — Documented Sumerian Motif, Early Dynastic
Early Dynastic lion-headed eagle with spread wings, the Sumerian Imdugud type; Anzû is a later Akkadian name for the same bird.
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Bull-Man (gud-alim / kusarikku) — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Akkadian
Upright hybrid with human head and torso, bovine horns, and bull hindquarters: the Early Dynastic–Akkadian contest figure later named kusarikku.
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Twin Serpents on Staff (Ningishzida) — Documented Sumerian Motif, Lagash II / Ur III
Two snakes in opposed coils around a vertical staff, heads meeting at the top, as on Gudea's chlorite libation vase for Ningishzida.
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Forked Lightning of Ishkur/Adad — Documented Akkadian Motif, Old Babylonian
A compact two- or three-pronged lightning fork used as Ishkur/Adad's extractable emblem on Old Babylonian seals, not a generic thunderbolt.
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Human-Headed Bull (alim) — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Akkadian
An unwinged bull with a bearded human face in Early Dynastic-Akkadian contest seals, not a Neo-Assyrian palace lamassu.
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Bügelschaft Gate-Post (URI3) — Documented Sumerian Motif, Late Uruk–Early Dynastic
A streamerless vertical shaft with a ring or loop on one side: the Late Uruk-Early Dynastic gate-post written URI3, distinct from Inanna's MUŠ3 reed-bundle.
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Basket-Bearer Foundation Peg — Documented Sumerian Motif, Lagash II–Ur III
A peg-shaped copper figurine of a shaven man carrying a brick-basket on his head: the Lagash II-Ur III royal foundation type, not a generic basket motif.
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Eight-Pointed Star — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Old Babylonian
An eight-pointed field-star used as a celestial mark on Early Dynastic through Old Babylonian seals, later often enclosed in a disc.
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Nude belted hero with curling locks (later called laḫmu) — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Akkadian
A frontal bearded male, nude except for a belt, with curling locks, shown in Early Dynastic–Akkadian contest groups.
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Multiple-Horned Crown / horned miter — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Old Babylonian
A cap or tiara stacked with one or more pairs of bull horns, worn on a divine head, not a royal brimmed cap.
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Flowing Vase (hegallu) — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Akkadian–Ur III
A globular vase from which two streams issue, often with fish: a transferable abundance device, not an Enki-only attribute.
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Rosette — Documented Sumerian Motif, Late Uruk–Early Dynastic
A circular floral disc with even petals around a dotted or ringed centre: a plant-geometric form, not a pointed star.
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Rod and Ring — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Ur III–Old Babylonian
Held rod with a ring or coiled measuring line, extended by a seated deity to a standing ruler in Ur III–Old Babylonian investiture scenes.
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Humbaba Frontal Face — Documented Akkadian Motif, Old Babylonian
Old Babylonian frontal monster-head plaque with a viscera-like coiled beard; the literary name is Akkadian Huwawa/Humbaba.
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Goat-Fish — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Ur III–Old Babylonian
Ur III–Old Babylonian hybrid of goat forequarters and carp tail, used as a seal field emblem; Enki/Ea association is later labeling, not the type name.
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Serrated Saw of Utu/Shamash — Documented Akkadian Motif, Akkadian–Old Babylonian
Akkadian–Old Babylonian serrated blade held by Utu/Shamash as a sun-god attribute, not a free badge and not a carpenter’s tool.
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Niched Temple Facade — Documented Sumerian Motif, Late Uruk–Early Dynastic
Late Uruk–Early Dynastic schematic temple elevation with vertical niches and buttresses, used as a seal and vessel motif, not a ground plan.
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Lion-Dragon of Ishkur — Documented Akkadian Motif, Akkadian
Akkadian lion-headed winged dragon with a short neck and bird hind-talons, extracted as Ishkur’s seal-beast without rider or chariot.
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Untitled Omega device — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Old Babylonian
Compact Ω-shaped field mark on Early Dynastic to Old Babylonian seals and plaques; ‘omega’ is a modern nickname, not a period name.
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Kneeling God Foundation Peg — Documented Sumerian Motif, Lagash II
Lagash II copper foundation figurine of a kneeling god in a horned cap, the lower body forming the burial spike.
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Bull-in-Reeds Foundation Peg — Documented Sumerian Motif, Lagash II
Lagash II copper peg topped by a bull calf standing in a reed marsh, inscribed for Gudea’s rebuilding of Nanshe’s temple at Sirara.
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Triple-lion-head mace (šita ur-sag eš) of Ningirsu — Documented Sumerian Motif, Lagash II
Lagash II votive mace-head with three lion heads in high relief, inscribed by Gudea as šita ur-sag eš for Ningirsu.
About this collection
A curated set of 25 historically documented visual motifs from Sumerian and early Akkadian southern Mesopotamian art, spanning c. 3500–1800 BCE. Includes iconic emblems like celestial stars, divine hybrids, foundation pegs, and royal standards drawn from seals, sculptures, and temple artifacts.
Files & delivery
Includes a one-click collection pack plus access from every included symbol page.
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