Syrian glyptic art in light of the 3rd-1st millennium BC cylinder seals found at Oylum Höyük and in the inventory of Gaziantep Archaeology Museum

This thesis aims to reveal the development process, typological diversity and cultural interactions of the Syrian glyptic by analysing the 3rd-1st millennium BC cylinder seals recovered during the excavations at Oylum Höyük and in the inventory of the Gaziantep Archaeological Museum. Within the scope of the study, a total of 120 artefacts were evaluated; the excavation finds, whose stratigraphic context is known, and the seals that entered the museum inventory in different ways were discussed comparatively.In the 3rd millennium BC, the geometric style dominated the seals of the Ebla, Mari and Aleppo Series, marking the beginning of regional individualisation. In the 2nd millennium BC, the figurative repertoire developed under the Hurri-Mitanni influence, and a multicultural seal tradition emerged by combining with Old Babylonian and Levantine motifs. In the 1st millennium BC, the ideological influences of Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Urartian and Achaemenid empires are reflected in the repertoire; hybrid seal types and astral symbols show the diversity of the period. Material analysis proves that raw materials such as hematite, serpentine, jasper, carnelian and faience were in circulation through extensive trade networks. This diversity demonstrates not only the administrative functions of seals, but also that they are documents of economic and cultural networks.The Oylum Höyük seals represent local production and circulation relations, while the Gaziantep collection represents international ties and cultural diversity. The Syrian gliptic has thus developed a unique synthesis beyond Mesopotamian influences, thanks to its connections with Anatolia, the Levant, Egypt and Elam.In conclusion, this study has holistically assessed both the local dynamics and the role of the Syrian glyptic in international circulation, and has demonstrated that the region was an intercultural crossroads in the ancient world.