Dish with King Hormizd II or Hormizd III Hunting Lions

400–600 CE

Iran, Sasanian Empire

(224–651 CE)

Medium

silver gilt

Measurements

Overall: 4.6 x 20.8 cm (1 13/16 x 8 3/16 in.)
Weight: 546 g (1.2 lbs.)

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund 1962.150

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Location

116 Islamic

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Did You Know?

Hormizd II's crown is distinct with its eagle form and topped with the traditional korymbos, a fine, bejeweled fabric that encases the top hair in a globelike fashion.

Description

Lion hunting was a traditional royal sport in ancient Near Eastern cultures and was frequently incorporated into artwork, such as Assyrian (about 912–612 BCE) palace reliefs. Thematically, depictions of the hunt in royal artwork bridge the pre- and post-Islamic worlds. This dish features the Sasanian ruler Hormizd II (reigned 303–309 CE), identifiable by his distinctive crown. The style of the king’s and horse’s equipment suggest that this dish was made long after he died, perhaps as a commemorative work by a much later successor, Hormizd III (reigned 457–459 CE).