Stamp seal: standing noble holding a flower

Sasanian

Not on view

This oval seal stone is finely carved with the full-length image of a male figure of high rank; whether a prince or a nobleman is not clear, however, since it lacks an inscription. Singular full-length figures are rare on Sasanian seals. This one turns to look at a plant or blossom, simply drawn, held up in his right hand. He holds the hilt of his sword with the other hand. Two dots on the chest may indicate clasps for a cloak, though none is shown. His stance and dress are like those seen on male figures in early Sasanian rock reliefs. Sasanian seals are often made of semiprecious stones and royal ones are large in scale.

Stamp seal: standing noble holding a flower, Sardonyx, Sasanian

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.