Carnelian
200-400 CE
Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Iran, Sasanian Empire
Theme
Later Civilisations of Land and Sea
Subtheme
Persia – Ancient Iran
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Nur Elahi; the carnelian was most likely sourced from Gujarat
Measurements
5.27 x 4.07 x 0.86 cm
Accession Number
LNS 4100 J
Description
The Sasanians, like earlier Persian rulers, used portraits in many different media to assert their authority, from seals and coins to massive mountainside reliefs. Emperors can be distinguished by their different styles of beard and head-dress.
Curators Comments
Across centuries and dynasties, the image of the king remains a symbol of authority. Like the Achaemenids, the Sasanian emperors put their portraits on objects ranging from seals and coins to massive mountainside reliefs. Emperors can be distinguished by their different styles of beard and head-dress. The emperor was shown in myriad activities like hunting, war, and diplomacy. The official religion of the Sassanian empire was Zoroastrianism. Many coins bear an image of the king and the sacred fire altar, still revered by the Parsi community in Mumbai today.
