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Conspectus Librorum - Book Review:


    Jürg EGGLER and Othmar KEEL, Corpus der Siegel-Amulette aus Jordanien. Vom Neolithikum bis zur Perserzeit., Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis (OBO) 25 - Series Archaeologica, Fribourg (Academic Press), 2006.
    Hardcover.  Black & white illustrations.  xviii-518 pages. ISBN 3-7278-1543-4
    Price: sFr. 148,-.

    Order:
    Academic Press Fribourg
    Pérolles 42
    CH-1700 Fribourg
    Switserland
    Fax: +41-(0)26-426 4300
    eduni@st-paul.ch



    This volume concerns 719 stamp- and cylinder seals from Jordan, dating from the Neolithic to the Persian Periods with over 90 % of the objects originating from systematic excavations. The aim of the authors is to present a scientific, structured and user - friendly instrument for the study of regional glyptic and its debt to imported seals. The catalogue is relatively complete, as the collecting of material ended in 2000, the compilation on the other hand excluding but seals without a specific provenance.
    This vast catalogue follows in the footsteps of another important contribution on seals from the Southern Levant, namely Othmar Keel's impressive Corpus der Stempelsiegel-Amulette aus Palästina/Israel. Von den Anfangen bis zur Perserzeit of which an introductory volume (OBO.SA 10 - 1995) as well as a first volume of the catalogue (Tell Abu Farag to Atlit) (OBO.SA 13 - 1997) have been published to date. Consequently, the volume on hand does not repeat the historical overview of object types, materials, function and meaning of seals already elaborately discussed in the aforementioned introductory volume, confining itself to references to the corresponding paragraphs. Eggler's and Keel's new endeavor nonetheless offers interesting supplements to the Corpus, for instance as to the scarabs' head and clypeus typology (xvi-xvii). The sites of origin of the Jordanian seals appear in alphabetical order, invariably introduced by a succinct history of excavations in situ.
    Within each site, they are organized by type (the stamp seals being followed by cylinder seals with their respective impressions) and, finally, by publication or excavation date (not by archaeological context!).
    The systematic approach of the material includes a detailed description of the seals' technical features (dimensions, material, type of engraving and, for the scarabs, a typology of the back), their present location, a meticulous description of the seal's base, an approximate date, contextual evidence and an up to date bibliography. Every individual item is accurately drawn and accompanied by photographs, reproduced in black and white. The authors conclude their invaluable work with a comprehensive bibliography; especially interesting is an iconographical index that will undoubtedly prove a very useful and significant instrument for future research on seals in the Levant.


    Vanessa Boschloos

    Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Conspectus Librorum