RTLu I (1996) 1, 79- 100 79 Seals in Ancient Mesopotamia and Seals of God in Revelation * Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati California State University, Los Angeles-USA Certain aspects of human culture in the ancient Near East from prehistoric and protohistoric times would still be recognized in the modem world even when they no longer would serve a useful purpose - for instance, Upper Paleolithic hand axes. Other specific aspects of the earliest evidence of human culture, on the other hand, we stiJJ actively employ - for instance certain geographical names such as those for the city of Aleppo, for the Euphrates or the Tigris Rivers. These names are among our earliest attested geographical designations in the area and appear to go back to prehistoric times, since they stem from a substratum language which long preceded the earliest attested historical languages. The same is also true for a very prominent aspect of late prehistoric and protohistoric material culture, namely the use of seals, both stamp seals * This article comes partly out of research Tconducted while spending a semester at the Facolta di Te%gia di Lugano in the Winter semester 1994-95. While the part on ancient Mesopotamian seals comes directly from my own research and excavations in Syria (from which I have derived the illustrative material used in the article, some of which is published here for the first time), my interest in connecting my previous research with the New Testament was stimulated by conversations with the Rector of the Faco/ta, Fr. Georges Chantraine S.1., and with its Secretary General, Fr. Ernesto William Volonte. I came to spend part of my sabbatical year (1994-95) at the Faco/ta to be near the bishop of Lugano and founder of the Facoltil, Msgr Eugenio Corecco in what, very sadly, turned out to be the last months of his life. While in Lugano I came to greatly admire the Facolta and its students. This small contribution is dedicated to the Compagnia di Santa Teresa, whose help and encouragement during the period of its composition made a great deal of difference tome.