For the ancients, an intaglio seal might have a variety of meanings or functions. Engraved with the crest of an individual or a clan, such a seal might act as an insignia of rank, a legal signature, or a mark of property. Adorned with religious symbols or magic images, an intaglio might assume some spiritual importance necessary to maintain the balance of the universe. It might be a talisman of good luck, one whose imagery assured bountiful success or protection from evil. This magnificent intaglio, carved in the Upper Euphrates Valley, depicts three long-horned ibexes or gazelles; animals whose religious importance stretches back thousands of years to the time when men painted on cave walls. The seal's large and impressive size suggests it was the property of a royal owner, someone who made a significant mark in the world.