Head of a Persian guard
The monumental art and architecture of the Achaemenid period are best exemplified by the ruins of Persepolis, the large ceremonial capital of the empire originally built by Darius I (r. 521–486 B.C.) and expanded by his successors. Persepolis is located thirty miles northwest of Shiraz in the southwest Iranian province of Fars. There, structures like the "Hall of One Hundred Columns" and the "Throne Room of Darius and Xerxes" exhibit features characteristic of Achaemenid palace architecture—large square rooms, with ceilings supported by many columns. Some of the columns in the Throne Room have been reconstructed and stand more than sixty-five feet high.
Most characteristic of Achaemenid sculpture are the slabs carved in low relief that decorate the various stairways leading to the ceremonial buildings. This relief portrays the head of an archer, with his quiver and bow resting on his shoulder. The bow terminates in the head of a duck. This fragment recalls the same imagery seen in the famous Frieze of Archers from the palace at Susa, now in the Louvre. Depictions of soldiers were lined up in groups in order to symbolically guard entrances. Archery was the primary method of attack used in Achaemenid warfare, and was also an essential part of the culture as all young men were taught how to shoot an arrow with precision.
Most characteristic of Achaemenid sculpture are the slabs carved in low relief that decorate the various stairways leading to the ceremonial buildings. This relief portrays the head of an archer, with his quiver and bow resting on his shoulder. The bow terminates in the head of a duck. This fragment recalls the same imagery seen in the famous Frieze of Archers from the palace at Susa, now in the Louvre. Depictions of soldiers were lined up in groups in order to symbolically guard entrances. Archery was the primary method of attack used in Achaemenid warfare, and was also an essential part of the culture as all young men were taught how to shoot an arrow with precision.
Artwork Details
- Title: Head of a Persian guard
- Period: Achaemenid
- Date: ca. 486–465 BCE
- Geography: Iran, Persepolis
- Culture: Achaemenid
- Medium: Limestone
- Dimensions: 21 1/4 × 24 7/16 × 4 3/4 in. (54 × 62 × 12 cm)
- Credit Line: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1955
- Object Number: 55.121.3
- Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Achaemenid
ca. 358–338 BCE
Iran
ca. early 1st millennium BCE
Assyrian
ca. 9th–8th century BCE
Achaemenid
ca. 405–359 BCE
Achaemenid
ca. late 6th century BCE
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.