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Symbols
Search researched meanings first, then narrow by tradition, era, object, practical use, style, or emotion.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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).
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
Griffin Wing Seal
Lion strength and eagle flight meet in the griffin, a hybrid whose imposing form became well suited to guarding valuable or sacred spaces. The wing seal distils that character into protection, courage and watchful strength.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.
Ancient Near Eastern · documented field
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.