Iran
Gold; H. 4.4 in. (11.1 cm)
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1954 (54.3.1)
In the sixth century B.C., under the leadership of Cyrus the Great (r. 559–530 B.C.), the Achaemenid Persian dynasty overthrew Median kings and established an empire that would eventually extend from eastern Europe and Egypt to India. Achaemenid rulers include such famed kings as Cyrus, Darius I (r. 521–486 B.C.), and Xerxes I (r. 485–465 B.C.). They built palaces and ceremonial centers at Pasargadae, Persepolis, Susa, and Babylon. The Achaemenid dynasty lasted for two centuries and was ended by the sweeping conquests of Alexander the Great, who destroyed Persepolis in 331 B.C. The Achaemenid period is well documented in the descriptions of Greek and Old Testament writers as well as by abundant archaeological remains.
Fluted bowls and plates of the Achaemenid period continue a tradition begun in the Assyrian empire. While they were given as royal gifts, it seems that they were also valued and exchanged simply for the weight of the precious metals from which they were made.
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Index Terms
Art Movement/Style
Material and Technique
Object
Subject Matter/Theme
- Archaeology
- Archaeology from Asia
