Double-Sided Pendant Seal with a Persian Hunting and Herakles (side A impression)

A small number of Achaemenid seals take the form of tear-shaped chalcedony pendants engraved on both sides. All appear to be products of a single workshop, probably in one of the empire’s western satrapies (perhaps in Lydia or Ionia). On one side of this drop-shaped pendant a mounted Persian shoots arrows at a running hyena, while on the other side a nude, unbearded Herakles stands with club raised and a lion’s skin draped over one arm. Greek deities and other themes were only rarely employed on Achaemenid gems, and the significance is uncertain.