Western Asiatic Old Babylonian Cylinder Seal with Presentation Scene

Western Asiatic Old Babylonian Cylinder Seal with Presentation Scene
16th-19th century BC
A haematite cylinder seal with a king with a mace facing a suppliant goddess Lama in a flounced robe, with a horned cap and with necklace counterweight; behind whom is a bearded god, also in a flounced robe, who is also seated, facing left and holding a wedge at its lower end; the throne consists of a crouching human figure whose head and bent arms form the seat; between Lama and the king, with a mace are (from top to bottom) a crescent moon, a fish, and a small Nude goddess, between the king with a mace and the seated god are two fishes; an inscription of three lines:

1: I-bi-Še-rum „Ibbi-Šērum,
2: DUMU ÌR-ÌŠTAR son of Warad-Ištar,
3: ÌR ᵈNIN.SI4.AN.NA servant of Ninsianna.“

Ibbi-Šērum = „God Šērum has called (=named) (him).“ This Old Babylonian personal name is on this seal the first evidence for the OB Onomastikon, since the god Šērum comes on second place in names so far only: Ibni-Šērum, Ikuppi-Šērum, Ilī-Šērum, Ṣillī-Šērum, Šer-Šērum, Namram-Šērum, Ur-Šērum. Šērum = the deified morning star. Warad-Ištar = „Servant of the goddess Ištar (goddess of love and war)“. Ninsianna = one of the names of Inanna (= Ištar), which designates her aspect as the planet Venus, the morning and evening star. 13.9 grams, 27mm (1"). Fine condition.
Provenance
Property of a Middlesex collector; acquired on the London art market before 2000; formerly in an old English collection.
Literature
For this picture cf. Collon, Dominique Catalogue of the Western Asiatic Seals in the British Museum. Cylinder Seals III: Isin-Larsa and Old Babylonian Periods, London, 1986, seals no.107 and 109.