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The Sasanian Empire (224–651 A.D.)

• 
  Head of a king, 4th century; Sasanian period
  Iran
  Gilded silver

  H. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm)
  Fletcher Fund, 1965 (65.126)

• 
  Plate with a hunting scene from the tale of Bahram Gur and Azadeh, 5th century; Sasanian period
  Iran
  Silver, mercury gilding

  Diam. 7.9 in. (20.1 cm)
  Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1994 (1994.402)

• 
  Plate with king hunting rams, late 5th–early 6th century; Sasanian period
  Iran
  Silver, mercury gilding, niello inlay

  H. 1 7/8 in. (4.6 cm), Diam. 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm)
  Fletcher Fund, 1934 (34.33)

• 
  Faceted Bowl, 5th–7th century; Sasanian
  Iran (?)
  Glass, blown and wheel-cut

  H. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)
  Rogers Fund, 1959 (59.34)

• 
  Ewer with dancing females within arcades, 6th century; Sasanian style
  Iran
  Silver, mercury gilding

  H. (a) 13.4 in. (34 cm)
  Purchase, Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Dillon Gift and Rogers Fund, 1967 (67.10a,b)

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After a disastrous campaign, the Sasanians were forced to pay tribute to their new eastern neighbors.

Related

Timelines (10)

• Anatolia and the Caucasus, 500–1000 A.D.
• Arabian Peninsula, 1–500 A.D.
• Arabian Peninsula, 500–1000 A.D.
• Asia Minor (Anatolia and the Caucasus), 1–500 A.D.
• Iran, 1–500 A.D.
• Iran, 500–1000 A.D.
• Iraq (Mesopotamia) 500–1000 A.D.
• Mesopotamia, 1–500 A.D.
• The Eastern Mediterranean, 1–500 A.D.
• The Eastern Mediterranean, 500–1000 A.D.

Primary Thematic Essays (4)

• Kushan Empire (ca. 2nd century b.c.–3rd century a.d.)
• Palmyra
• The Parthian Empire (247 b.c.–224 a.d.)
• The Roman Empire (27 b.c.–393 a.d.)

Other Thematic Essays (8)

• Gandhara
• Islamic Arms and Armor
• List of Rulers of Mesopotamia
• Luxury Arts of Rome
• The Metropolitan Museum's Excavations at Nishapur
• Modern Art in West and East Pakistan
• Nineteenth–century Iran: Continuity and Revivalism
• The Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp

Maps (3)

• West Asia Regional, 1–500 a.d.
• West Asia Regional, 500–1000 a.d.
• World, 1–500 a.d.

Index Terms (16)

Art Movement/Style

• Achaemenid Persian Empire of the Ancient Near East
• Late Imperial Art in Ancient Rome
• Mid–Imperial Art in Ancient Rome
• Sasanian Empire of the Ancient Near East
• Yuan Dynasty of China

Geography/Place

• Anatolia and the Caucasus
• Central and North Asia
• Iran
• Rome (Ancient)

Material and Technique

• Silver from Central and North Asia
• Silver plate

Subject Matter/Theme

• Archaeology from Asia
• Persian Poetry
• Trade (1–500 A.D.)
• Vessel with Floral Motif
• Warrior

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Around 224 A.D., Ardashir I, a descendant of Sasan who gave his name to the new Sasanian dynasty, defeated the Parthians. The Sasanians saw themselves as the successors of the Achaemenid Persians. One of the most energetic and able Sasanian rulers was Shapur I (r. 241–72 A.D.). During his reign, the central government was strengthened, the coinage was reformed, and Zoroastrianism was made the state religion. The expansion of Sasanian power in the west brought conflict with Rome. In 260 A.D., Shapur took prisoner the emperor Valerian in a battle near Edessa. Thereafter the defense of Rome's eastern frontier was left to the ruler of Palmyra, a caravan city in Syria. By the end of Shapur I’s reign, the Sasanian empire stretched from the River Euphrates to the River Indus and included modern-day Armenia and Georgia. After a short period during which much territory was lost, Sasanian fortunes were restored during the long reign of Shapur II (r. 310–79 A.D.). He reestablished control over the Kushans in the east and campaigned in the desert against the Arabs. Conflict with Rome resulted once again in Sasanian control of northern Mesopotamia and Armenia. During the fifth century, tribal movements in Central Asia resulted in Hephthalite Huns creating an extensive empire centered on Afghanistan. After a disastrous campaign, the Sasanians were forced to pay tribute to their new eastern neighbors. Iran recovered her glory during the reign of Khosrow I (r. 531–79 A.D), who defeated the Hephthalites. However, in the years following Khosrow's death, there were internal revolts and wars with the Byzantine empire. This weakened Iran, and Arab forces, united under Islam, defeated the Sasanian armies in 642. The last Sasanian ruler, Yazdegerd III, died in 651.

Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Citation Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. "The Sasanian Empire (224–651 A.D.)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sass/hd_sass.htm (October 2003) Further Reading Herrmann, Georgina. The Iranian Revival. Oxford: Elsevier-Phaedon, 1977. Yarshater, Ehsan, ed. The Cambridge History of Iran Volume 3: The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983. Related exhibitions and online features Special Exhibitions (including upcoming, current, and past exhibitions) The Philippe de Montebello Years: Curators Celebrate Three Decades of Acquisitions

These related Museum Bulletin or Journal articles may or may not represent the most current scholarship. Harper, Prudence Oliver. "The Heavenly Twins." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 23, no. 5 (January, 1965). JSTOR | PDF | Supplemental PDFs "Notes" PDF Grancsay, Stephen V. "A Sasanian Chieftain's Helmet." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 21, no. 8 (April, 1963). Harper, Prudence Oliver. "The Senmurv." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 20, no. 3 (November, 1961). JSTOR | PDF Wilkinson, Charles Kyrle. "The First Millennium B.C. [Art of the Ancient Near East]." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 18, no. 8 (April, 1960). JSTOR | PDF