This cylinder seal is decorated with a continuous carved scene that fills the entire surface. The scene contains six animals, arranged in three pairs of two. They seem to be from three different species. At the bottom, in the left half of the modern impression, there are two animals standing and facing each other. They have four thin legs, long bodies, and tails with three parts. Their necks are decorated with horizontal lines representing the texture of their fur, and they have straight ears, but no horns. There is a flower in between them. Above them, there is another pair of animals; these ones are lying down, facing away from each other but with their heads turned backwards so they are looking at each other. They are not lying on a depicted surface, but appear as though they are floating in the pictorial space. Their bodies are shorter than those of the first pair, and their tails only have one part. The decorative lines on their necks are also different, and they have curved horns. Between them, a tree branch with leaves hangs down from the top of the image. The final pair, on the right in the modern impression, are the largest of the animals. They are standing on their hind legs, and appear to be moving to the right. They have longer limbs than the others, which bend sharply. Their tails are long and curling, and their horns curve forward. They have two different patterns depicting the texture of the hair on their necks. Above and below them is a six-pointed star motif. The stone is a dark greenish grey, with lighter beige patches. It has been set in a gold base and a gold top with a ring on it, allowing the seal to be suspended. This means it would have been easy to carry around or wear, functioning both as a status symbol and a practical object.

Cylinder seals were invented in around the 4th millennium BCE, although engraved stones had been used to make impressions since the 7th millennium. The new shape allowed for the seals to be rolled over clay to make the impressions, giving the artists more freedom to employ complex designs. Seals could function as marks of identification or ownership, either on clay that was used literally to seal things like doors, jars, and baskets, or on clay tablets containing information about transactions. They were often made of precious stones, making them important and impressive artworks in their own right.

The Assyrian Empire was a Mesopotamian civilisation which existed from around the 14th century BCE to the 7th century BCE. At its largest extent, during the Neo-Assyrian period, it spanned from parts of what is now Iran in the east to Egypt in the west. In the 13th century, a series of warrior kings conquered nearby territory, increasing the size of the empire. Around the end of this century, a drop in power began, and a lot of the territory was lost. This period, from the 14th to the 10th century, is known as the Middle Assyrian Empire. In the 10th century, the power and territory of the empire increased again, leading to the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which for a time was the dominant political power in the Near East, until it collapsed in the 7th century. The ancient Assyrians spoke the Assyrian language, which is thought to be a dialect of Akkadian, and was written with cuneiform script. Their chief deity was Ashur, a personification of their capital city with the same name, but they worshipped a pantheon of gods. Because of the size and wealth of the empire, lots of impressive art was created to furnish public places. One of the characteristic Assyrian art forms was narrative low reliefs, which were often displayed in palaces. Many cylinder seals were also produced.