Ancient Near East, Neo-Babylonian Empire, Reign of Nabonidus, ca. 556 to 539 BCE; Ancient Near East / Central Asia, Sasanian (Sassanian / Sassanid) Empire, ca. 224 to 651 CE. An impressive pair of stone artifacts: a duck weight from the Neo-Babylonian Empire during the rule of Nabonidus and a stamp seal bead from the Sasanian Empire. Hand-carved from milk chalcedony, the duck weight presents the form of a seated duck with its head folded over its back and an annular drill hole for suspension. The base is incised with the standard of Sin, the God of the Moon. Alternatively, the Sasanian stone stamp seal is sculpted from carnelian in a translucent hue of orange. Fit with an annular drill hole for suspension, its flat face displays the incised image of a star and crescent. Size (of largest): 0.75" L x 0.375" W x 0.375" H (1.9 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm); Size (of custom display case, both the same): 1.25" W x 0.5" H (3.2 cm x 1.3 cm)

The duck weight weighs 4 grams, or a half shekel in standard Babylonian measure, meaning the duck shape itself was likely carved during the Neo-Babylonian period, and not the Neo-Assyrian period, which used a higher weight standard. The Neo-Babylonian emperor Nabonidus was responsible for ushering in a new cult focus to the Moon God, whose standard is seen on the duck weight, which threw off the balance of power of the Patron God Marduk and the pantheon of Gods associated with the Eluma Elish. This caused great political upheaval in the capital with the priest class, which led to the downfall of the Babylonian Empire.

Provenance: private Corpus Christi, Texas, USA estate collection, acquired 1960s to 1970s

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#165268

Both are wearable as beads or pendants. Intact and excellent.