Ancient Persia

PAINTED BOWL

Many of the pottery vessels from the site of Tall-i-Bakun in the plain of Persepolis show a highly sophisticated use of negative designs in conjunction with more usual painted patterns. On this bowl, two patterns alternate in rhythmic sequence. One is a painted design of anthropomorphic inspiration with a "head" flanked by upraised "arms" facing bo...

Read More

Persepolis - Unfinished Tomb of Darius III

Showing Partly Completed Reliefs on the Facade....

Read More

Relief of Gobryas, Head and Inscription -Darius Tomb

IRAN: Naqsh-i-Rustam - Tomb of Darius I. Relief of Gobryas, Close-up of Head and Inscription Above, Top Register....

Read More

History of Iran: Parthian Army

The Greco-Persian wars and Alexander's victories proved that light-armed troops could not stop heavy, well-trained, and brilliantly led infantry of the type of hoplites or phalanx. These could only be encountered with heavily armed and highly professional cavalry causing disorder in the massed ranks and then attacking them on vulnerable points with...

Read More

The Battle of Marathon, 490 B.C.

The battle of Marathon is one of history's most famous military engagements. It is also one of the earliest recorded battles. Their victory over the Persian invaders gave the fledgling Greek city states confidence in their ability to defend themselves and belief in their continued existence. The battle is therefore considered a defining moment in t...

Read More

The Battle of Carrhae

It was probably on the third or fourth day after he had quitted the Euphrates that Crassus found himself approaching his enemy. After a hasty and hot march he had approached the banks of the Belik, when his scouts brought him word that they had fallen in with the Parthian army, which was advancing in force and seemingly full of confidence. Abgarus ...

Read More

Ancient Iranian Mythology - CAIS

Contains several articles of Ancient Iranian Mythology...

Read More

Iran Double Bull Capital

Double bull capital from Persepolis, as restored by sculptor Donato Bastiani. This column capital once supported a roof beam in the Apadana of Darius I (521-486 B.C.)....

Read More

View of the Tomb of Darius the Great.

IRAN: Naqsh-i-Rustam - View of the Tomb of Darius the Great....

Read More

DISC-HEADED PIN

Large numbers of decorated disc-headed pins were found in the sanctuary at Surkh Dum-i-Luri. They may have been votive offerings to a fertility goddess or, on analogy with a modern ethnographic parallel, deposits verifying wedding contracts among nomadic peoples moving through the area. The decoration of this example, with an eight-petaled central ...

Read More