Two Seals and One Bulla From Daskyleion

Abstract

In this study, three examples of Achaemenid glyptic art, which were uncovered in the satrapy of Daskyleion, have been examined. Daskyleion was located at the western border of Persian Empire in Anatolia. One of the examples is a cylinder seal and the second one is a pyramidal stamp seal. The third example is a bulla impressed with stamp seal; it was most probably found in Daskyleion, and now preserved in the Ekrem Akurgal collection of Ankara University Faculty of Languages History and Geography. It is also noteworthy that although the large numbers of pyramidal stamp seals uncovered in Lydia were made in Greco-Persian style, the Daskyleion pyramidal seal carved in the Babylonian style. It is known that during Achaemenid Period, after the conquest of Babylon, especially as a result of the great tolerance shown to the Jews, Babylonian Jews become loyal administrators of the Achaemenid Emperors. Daskyleion pyramidal stamp seal possibly indicates the presence of a Babylonian administrator in the satrapy centre. Achaemenid glyptic art was intensely influenced by the Mesopotamia, however Persian-style depictions were improved in time and the depictions known from Mesopotamian glyptic art were engraved with Persian characters. On the other hand, it is known that Anatolia and Greek elements were added to those and Greco-Persian style had emerged as a new style. This can be explained with the fact that the Achaemenid Empire had spread on a large area and included many different cultures. As a result, the cosmopolitan nature of Achaemenid Empire was reflected on the glyptic art. This cultural diversity can be clearly seen in almost 300 bullae in the palace archive of Daskyleion. The existence of the cosmopolitan structure in question is enriched with the new glyptic art examples studied here from Daskyleion which is a satrapy center in the western part of Anatolia.