Cylinder Seals from Middle Bronze Age in Ebla. Main classes of Styles

The cylinder seals were employed mainly in administrative functions and were widespread starting from the middle of the fourth millennium BC, in the ancient Near East sites. Distinctive themes and styles were diffused in many different regions. In my opinion, there are three principal factors that influence or form a style. These factors are: the Idea/subject, the Technique, and the Material. Obviously the style evaluated and changed depending on the change of one of those factors, although the main factor is the idea/subject. However, I will follow the principally known classes, with some modifications. As the most notable factor for the classification is the subject/idea, I will base the classification of Ebla cylinder seal on this factor. Analysis of the theme and the character of the design, the nature of clothes and on the nature of figures, could also supply our classification for Ebla cylinders.