Reflections of Levant and Mesopotamia gods and goddess on Cyprus cylinder seals - Núm. 12-62, Febrero 2023 - Amazonía Investiga - Libros y Revistas - VLEX 932626329
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Reflections of Levant and Mesopotamia gods and goddess on Cyprus cylinder seals

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Vincent
AutorYücel Yazgin
CargoAssoc. Prof. Dr., Near East University, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Plastic Arts, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Páginas10-32
10
www .ama zoni ain vest iga. info IS SN 2 322 - 6307
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2023.62.02.1
How to Cite:
Yazgin, Y. (2023). Reflections of Levant and Mesopotamia gods and goddess on Cyprus cylinder seals. Amazonia Investiga, 12(62),
10-32. https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2023.62.02.1
Reflections of Levant and Mesopotamia gods and goddess on Cyprus
cylinder seals
LEVANT VE MEZOPOTAMYA TANRI VE TANRIÇALARININ KIBRIS SİLİNDİR
MÜHÜRLERİ ÜZERİNDEKİ YANSIMALARI
Received: January 12, 2023 Accepted: March 22, 2023
Written by:
Yücel Yazgin1
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3489-771X
Abstract
The aim of the research is to determine the
similarities between the Cyprus and Levant &
Mesopotamian cylinder seals, on which god and
goddess figures are engraved on them. The research
is important in terms of showing the effects and
similarities of mainland cultures and artistic
products through Levant & Mesopotamian
mainland and Cyprus island cultures. The research
stems from a case study model, which will involve
qualitative research methods. Visual analysis was
carried out in two stages. In the first stage, 67 seal
images were given to six creative education experts.
Experts stated that there are figures of a god and
goddess on 34 cylinder seals. In the second stage,
34 seal images were examined by three visual arts
experts. The infographic analyses have shown that
the god-g oddess figures on the Levant &
Mesopotamian and Cyprus cylinder seals are
similar or bear close resemblances. This result
shows that ancient civilisations shared the material
and spiritual values of the culture in a "fluid and
sticky" character. This sharing feature should be
accepted, supported and protected as a guid e to the
way of living together, which today's people need.
Keywords: Cylinder seals, Cyprus, god, goddess,
Levant & Mesopotamia, religion.
Introduction
The first human being existence in Cyprus was
mentioned to be in 12,000 BC (Simons, 2012).
The places where human beings were present,
can be mentioned to be in the Late Epipaleolithic
period, on the island of Cypr us, were
Aetokremnos and Akamas. Throughout the
history, islands have always been influenced by
1
Assoc. Prof. Dr., Near East University, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Plastic Arts, Nicosia, Cyprus.
the life on the mainland and continents close to
them. After the occupation of the people, on the
mainland, signs of human existence on the island
of Cyprus, were found in the archaeological
studies carried out in Aetokremnos (Swiny,
2001). According to the findings obtained from
these archaeological settlements, the first settled
Yazgin, Y. / Volume 12 - Issue 62: 10-32 / February, 2023
Volume 12 - Issue 62
/ February 2023
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htt p:// ww w.am azon iain vest iga. inf o ISS N 23 22- 6307
human life on the island, began in the Neolithic
Age (8500-3900 BC in the New Polished Stone
Age) in these two settlements (Karageorghis,
2002). The human being presence on the island
before the Late Ep ipaleolithic period continued
also in the Palaeolithic periods. The seals were
produced to perform tasks such as identifying
identity, determining p roperty, representing
persons, conveying a message, and carrying a
talisman feature. In particular, it is seen that, the
relations between kings and gods or goddess
were reflected in the engravings on the seals. The
first examples of seals used on the island of
Cyprus were f ound during excavations at
Kissonerga-Mosphilia and Lemba-Lakkous. Th e
seal found at Kissonerga-Mosphilia is a Late
Chalcolithic Age IV limestone seal, with
diagonal lines engraved on it. Another example
is the seal with linea r and curvilinear motifs
found in Area II at Lemba-Lakkous. (Webb &
Weingarten, 2012; Reyes, 2001).
The Neolithic Age in Cyprus is dated
approximately between 7000 BC an d 3000 BC.
The same period covers the years 8200-3900 BC,
according to Karageorghis. The Chalcolithic
period is dated to be 3900-2500 BC
(Karageorghis, 2002). According to Kyrris, the
Early Bronze Age on the island is dated between
3000-1800 BC (Kyrris, 1985). Karageorghis
accepts this period to be between 2500 -1900 BC
and divides it into three periods, as Early Bronze
Age I-II and III (Karageorghis, 2002). After the
Early Bronze Age, the Middle and Late Bronze
Ages took place on the island of Cyprus. But
again, according to the same sources, these ages
are dated between 1900 BC and 1050 BC. The
seals examined in this study consist of seals
obtained from Late Bronze Age settlemen ts in
Cyprus. The settlement areas mentioned are
Enkomi, Hagia Irene, Kition, Kalavasos-Ayios
Dimitrios, Ankastina, Toumba Tou Skourou,
Dromolaxia-Vyzakia (Hala Sultan Tekke).
The use of cylinder seals in Cyprus, along with
the Middle East, took place between the end of
3000 BC and the beginning of 2000 BC (Reyes,
2001). According to the data obtained from the
dating of cylinder seals o btained from
archaeological excav ations and exhibited in
museums, the use of cylind er seals in Cyp rus
dates back to 3000 BC (Karageorghis, 2002). In
this research, the cylinder seals used in Cyprus,
engraved with images of gods or goddess, will be
investigated and compared with the images of
gods or goddess en graved/drawn on different
materials in Levant & Mesopotamian cultures.
In this research, seals with images of god or
goddess on the archaeological cylinder seals used
in Cyprus and exhibited in Cyprus archaeology
museums, British Museum , John Hopkins
Museum, Medelhavsmuseet and the
Metropolitan Museum's Cyprus artifacts sections
were investigated. For this purpose, two hundred
and fourteen (214) cylinder seals wer e visually
analysed in order to identify seals having human
body images (god and goddess) on them. With
this method, it was aimed to investigate how
many different gods or goddess images were
engraved on the cylinder seals. In this context,
the similarities with the images of gods or
goddess in Levant & Mesopotamian cultures
were examined.
Therefore, in the context of god or goddess
images on archaeological cylinder seals, it is
aimed to determine the similarities and
differences between the spiritual-cultural
structure of the country and the spiritual culture
of Levant & Mesopotamian cultures.
This research is based on the seals used in the
archaeological periods on the island of Cyprus.
Research is important because it aims to
determine the diversification of god or goddess
images on seals, which has not been investigated
as a primary subject in studies co nducted until
today and to examine them in a categorising
mode. In addition, to the fact that there are
connections regarding the images of g ods or
goddess, their engravemen t or drawings on
different materials in neighbouring cultures are
also within the scope of the research and this
increases the importance of the research.
The fact that cylinder seals were used in a limited
region in the world (Levant & Mesopotamia and
cultures around the Mediterranean) an d for a
limited time (approximately between 3000-500
BC) makes them highly important. In the context
of their importance, in those days; the fact that
they were the best examples of art of relief,
engraving and printmaking, creates the need to
introduce them to the world and puts them on the
agenda of today's art research.
It is thought that they deserve to be known more
closely by today's artists and researchers because
of their important place in both art and social life
and trade of that period.
The subject of this research is limited to the
archaeological cylinder seals used in Cyprus,
which are exhibited in the archaeology museums
in Cyprus and in the sections of the British
Museum at John Hopkins Museum,

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