The design shows three pairs of heroes fighting rearing big animals, from the left: a bull with human face grappling a lion, and a nude hero with much facial hair grappling with a second lion, and a hero in short kilt grappling with a buffalo.

This is an Akkadian seal from Mesopotamia, c. 2300-2200 B.C, in the classical Akkadian style. This art changed from earlier Sumerian art in cultivating a naturalism seen especially in the animals and the heroes’ faces here, which are especially fine. Also the motif of the scenes changed. The Sumerian depicted domestic animals being saved from the attacks of wild animals, but the military ethics of the Akkad kings resulted in displays of might: heroes grappling with lions with their bare heads.

This seal is a little worn, but the power of the art remains clear to see.