LOS PROPIETARIOS DE LOS SELLOS EN ÉPOCA CASITA: LEYENDA-MOTIVO ICONOGRÁFICO-COLOR DE LA PIEDRA ¿EXISTE UN SELLO TÍPICAMENTE FEMENINO?

Abstract

Although there are examples of images representing priestesses on cylinder seals, generally the gender of female seal-owners cannot be identified visually, either from the motif or the colour of the stone or the type of legend. It can only be identified from the anthroponym or the grammatical genus. No differences between the seal inscriptions of women and men are recognizable other than the way of citinggenealogy. Listing the names of male relatives or even of the father-in-law and incorporating their gods seems to be a phenomena of Kassite times and might demonstrate the social order of clan families. The exception are priestesses and women who call themselves “geme”, which suggests that they are performing ceremonial tasks, who call upon their own gods.Considering the visual characteristics of seal stones, such as colour and pattern, we should point out the classification of colours revealed in “abnu sikinsu”, the amulet-handbook for exorcists. At least in Kassite glyptic red seal stones are not restricted to female owners or to goddesses. Rather the special composition of the stone enters into a symbiosis integrating design and legend to unleash apotropaic forces.