One of twenty-one seals c. 800

This seal presents a captivating zoomorphic figure, perhaps a griffin or a lion with bird-like features, encircled by stylized vegetal motifs. The composite creature, a potent symbol of strength and vigilance, draws from a wellspring of ancient mythologies, echoing in the chimera of Greece, or the lamassu of Assyria. Consider how the seal, used to mark property and authenticate documents, becomes a concentrated vessel of power. The griffin, straddling the realms of earth and sky, embodies a transcendence, a connection to the divine. We see a similar yearning in the medieval bestiaries, where animals carry moral lessons, their forms imbued with symbolic weight. The motif is passed down through history, shifting in meaning as cultures assimilate and reinterpret. The seal, though small, resonates with a primal force, engaging viewers on a subconscious level and reminding us of the enduring human quest to give form to our deepest fears and aspirations.