Cylinder seal and its modern impression is the signature of Queen Puabi of Ur. The stone cylinder is carved with two relief scenes that when rolled out depict in the top scene two women of rank sharing food and drink while being waited upon by female servants. The lower scene is a depiction on the queen’s court as she sits on her throne with her servants surrounding her. Per the information on the piece in Chapter 2 on page 33 this piece was “found leaning up against the right arm of her body,” causing the archaeologists to believe that this is her signature.
The double line in the center of the cylinder is a separation of events, creating the effect of a ceiling and a floor. Showing the separations of the elite and the masses by giving important events in court in the upper level we are privy to the private world of women in the rooms of the queen. We see servants serving drinks and fanning the women of privilege. They seem to be enjoying a private conversation and celebrating an intimate event. The use of fringe along the bottom of the clothing seems to denote their sex. By using negative space the artist is able to capture the general forms of each individual as well as line in the furniture.
The lower panel in the piece shows this woman enjoying a meal and entertainment provided by her servants. She appears to be well loved and cared for as it is important to recognize also that all the individuals in this frame as well are denoted by their clothing as female. We see even the strings on the harp, the drink which appears to be poured from the gourd shaped vessel in the hand maids hand. Each part of the relief is a form of negative space.
The stone cylinder is hand carved and beautiful in and of itself. A lovely shade of deep green lapis with white and yellow spotting that is typical for this stone. Since it does not appear to have wax or other materials embedded in the piece shows it was more likely to have been created for the purpose of commemorating an event than for the everyday use of signing ones name.
Placed as it was so close to what is for most of us our dominate hand leaves the idea in the mind of the viewer that this piece was supposed to be a moniker for the deceased rather than a celebration of important events in their life. It is possible that this is in remembrance of her coronation or the recognition of her coming of age. Since the everyday event of partaking food and drink would not have been important enough to be recorded in such a permanent manner and there does not appear to be any special markings that denote a name or rank it is more likely that this piece is much like taking a picture of an moment in time is today.
Since when the cylinder is rolled in clay it creates a flat image about the size of a current photograph it would appear that it is celebratory. In each panel we see a young woman surrounded by her servants in one an older woman perhaps her mother or soon to be mother-in-law joins her at the same level in rank. It brings back the understated yet very important lack of males in the events pictorial record.
The balance created in both panels is simple and a-symmetrical. While the upper panel only contains 5 females the second panel is made up of even number 8 women, furnishings are sparse and only created for the use of this important woman. Feminism would be a complete thought for reason as to the one sided sexual balance however, women in this time would have been kept separate from men as often as possible. So it would be preferable to believe that this is due to culture and expectations of the times.
Each line is deliberate, the details in this piece are very important because the artist took the time to ensure that they would be properly placed in the clothing and furnishings rather than the faces of the figures. No this is not about signing ones name it is about remembering who we are and why we hold our place in life.
Quote from Art History book 1, chapter 2, page 33. By Marilyn Stokstad and Michael W. Cothern.
Interesting and well-written formal analysis! You were very descriptive and supported your ideas/views well. Before, I thought that cylinder seals were used just for signing their names while still depicting who they were and what they did, but I am intrigued to think about this cylinder seal's purpose as a commemorating event "snap shot" rather than an everyday use of a signature. I can imagine by how you portrayed the event of "partaking food and drink" more as an important event for that individual instead of it being an everyday life signature.
ReplyDeleteI wonder though, would it be possible that all leftover clay/wax in the cylinder seal would be removed by chance being being buried with it?
But, just having this seal in a rare material of lapis lazuli really shows how powerful/important this person was, whether or not we discovered that she was royal.
I like this piece a lot, for me I can see many hidden stories behind it. There is such a mysterious quality in knowing that it was discovered in a woman's tomb; obviously she didn't place it there herself, so I wonder who did put it there? I would like to think that maybe a few of her servants had it placed there, although that may be a totally ridiculous thought how cool is it to maybe think that she had a really special relationship with her help? Maybe they created this piece in remembrance of their Queen, to let her know they truly valued and respected her and they wanted her to leave this world with a gift reminding her spirit that they will always be there to serve and kneel before her? I do not see specific detail in this piece, the carvings are somewhat blurry and abstract, which is why I feel like it may have been done by someone without the most refined carving skills, and one would think that a piece made and intended to go in a Queens's tomb would have been a little more nicely carved..? Right? Perhaps by an artisan.
ReplyDeleteBecause pieces such as this, (artifacts found in ancient tombs) are shrouded inso much mystery, we may never know or understand the true meanings behind them; which is why I think it's fun and interesting to wonder about all the possibilities regarding their existence. Really who knows, maybe her slaves did make this is in a last attempt to display their loyalty, who cool would that be?!