Fighting lion among the reeds

Akkadian cylinder seal, dated to 2400BC-2200BC, depicting "two antithetical groups, each consisting of a bearded hero fighting a lion"...Currently in the British museum...

There is a lot of speculation about the identity of the "hero". But no one is asking the question: why are there reeds depicted in the centre of the seal? Let me try to answer this question myself. 

Remember this seal from my post "Canals"?

Sun God Utu/Shamash with sun (heat) rays emanating from his shoulders, standing in in an empty canal, in Leo (between the lions), the hottest, driest time of the year in Mesopotamia, and the time when canals were repaired, holding reed cutting knife...

In this post I talked not just about the best time to repair the canals (August) but also about the best time to cut reeds for boat building (Also August):

"Marsh Arabs of Iraq say that Berdi reed, must be cut in August, and only in August, or it absorbs water quickly and sinks"...

So I wonder if this Akkadian seal also symbolically depicts that the best time to cut reeds is "between lions", in Leo (Jul/Aug). BTW Leo marks Jul/Aug, because this is when Eurasian lions main mating season used to start...

Another post, "Scarlet ware with goat" in which I talk about the exploitation of reeds in Mesopotamia, this time as animal fodder...

That's it. To read more about ancient animal and plant calendar markers, start here…Then check my twitter threads I still didn't convert to blog post...I am way way behind...

Minoan flying goddess with griffin

Minoan gold signature ring depicting a flying griffon and goddess, from cemetery at Archanes, Phourni, in Crete, 1700-1450 BC.

What does this mean? 

I believe that this means: The goddess of fertility arrives at the end of autumn symbolised by a griffin.

Minoan griffin consists of: 

Lion, animal calendar marker known as Leo, marks Jul/Aug, cause the mating season of Eurasian lions starts in Jul/Aug...

Vulture, animal calendar marker known as Eagle, marks Oct/Nov, cause the mating season of Eurasian vultures starts in Oct/Nov

I talked about it in my post "Origin of griffins" which contains symbolic analysis of this Proto-Elamite seal, dated to 3000 BC and depicting a griffin, followed by ibex goat, or goitered gazelle...

I talked about the Minoan griffins in several of my posts. Like "Minoan griffin fresco" about the griffin fresco from the throne room, palace of Knossos, Crete, dated to 1700-1450 BC. 

I also talked about Minoan griffins in my post "Minoan dolphins fresco" about the famous Minoan "dolphins fresco" from Knossos, Crete, dated to 1500BC...And about the symbolism of dolphins in Minoan art and culture...

And their (strange) link to griffins, depicted here on this very interesting Minoan sealstone discovered at Akrotiri, Thera, and dated to the 18th c. BC, which depicts a griffin suckling a dolphin...

Here is another interesting Minoan fresco. This one is commonly known as the "Saffron goddess". 1600 BC Akrotiri frescoes, Santorini, Greece. Griffin is depicted sitting next to the same fertility goddess... 

Why saffron goddess?

This is a part of the saffron harvest fresco. 

The goddess is depicted sitting on a throne among the blooming saffron crocuses...

The start of the Saffron crocus flowering/harvest season in Crete coincides with the beginning of the rain season (Oct/Nov)...And in Crete rain=fertility=life.

Posts about saffron and its symbolic role in Minoan mythology: "Saffron", "Origin of saffron"...

That's it. To read more about ancient animal and plant calendar markers, start here…Then check my twitter threads I still didn't convert to blog post...I am way way behind...