Mesopotamian Art / Statue & Mittanian cylinder seal impression - Annunaki / Apkallu / Genie Protector deity pollinator of the tree of life

Apkhallu with cylinder seal impression

Dimensions :-

Total height - 10.5 cm / 4-1/8 inches

Base stand - 4 cm x 3.1cm / 2 inches x 1-1/4 inches.

On offer here is an exclusive replica of an Apkhallu figure from the Mesopotamian mythological pantheon and a cylinder seal impression of Mittanian design.
Made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone both have an aged patina. The statue is mounted on a felt based stand.

The figure wears the typical ox horn headdress, an elaborate cloak and holds a pollen bag in one hand and a pollinator cone / palm flower in the other.


Also identified with Annunaki the Apkhallu were considered wise hybrid human and god entities imparting valuable civilisation boosting knowledge to mankind. Wise men, sages, shamans.

The iconography of the Apkallu is quite varied and can include men wearing fish skins, eagle heads or men with or without wings dressed in elaborate garments. Up to seven tiers of ox horns create a headdress for the non-eagle variants.

One of the most frequent depictions of the Apkallu involved the pollination of the tree of life which impacted on the very fertility and abundance of the land. They would stand either directly in contact with the tree to perform the ritual or stand behind the King of a particular realm seeming to pollinate the king himself who would do the job on behalf of his kingdom.

The Apkallu are depicted clutching a hand bag or type of bucket and this receptacle is known in the ancient Akkadian texts as a banddudu.
Within the bag contained pollen that would be applied to the buds of the tree of life with a pine cone or the male flower of the date palm - Mullilu.

Much has been written about Apkallu and the Annunaki particularly in the last decade as the Mesopotamian worlds are being continually decoded from the abundant texts inspiring new appraisals of the iconography.

Suggested topics for further research - The epic of Gilgamesh, the seven sages of Mesopotamia, Nephilim.

In addition a cylinder seal impression of Mittanian design features a deity wearing a horned crown and is seated on a throne. The deity is being addressed by a mortal male figure and his female consort who seem to have made an offering of corn at the feet of the deity.
The moon god is present in the form of a lunar crescent and a fabulous beast looking like a proto-dragon rears it’s snake like body behind a star. This creature is symbolic of the disorder the couple are no doubt seeking to absolve by engaging with the deity.

*As each item is handmade, slight colour variations may occur.