Middle Assyrian Red Sard Cylinder Seal, South Mesopotamia, 12th-11th century BC
Showing a griffin-demon (apkallu) tearing a branch from a tree.
This is an unusual seal with regards to the typical griffin-demon and tree motif in ancient art. In Neo-Assyrian glyptic and monumental art, griffin-demons are often portrayed in the action of fertilizing the female blossoms of the date palm. On this seal it seems like the apkallu is picking off a branch instead of fertilizing it.