#sasanian

[along-the-silkroad]

Relief at Naqsh-e Rajab depicting the Sasanian king Shapur I followed by his sons and nobles, 3rd century CE. Shapur I, known as “the Great,” was the second ruler of the Sasanian Empire (c. 240–270), initially co-ruling with his father Ardashir I. He expanded and consolidated the empire, waging major campaigns against the Roman Empire, capturing key cities and even defeating and capturing the emperor Valerian in 260.

Rather than holding Roman territories, he focused on plunder and resettlement, strengthening cities like Gundeshapur. Shapur also promoted state building, founding cities, supporting Zoroastrianism while incorporating foreign influences, and tolerating new movements such as Mani’s teachings. He was the first to adopt the title “King of Kings of Iranians and non-Iranians” and died in 270.

Photo: Wikipedia (user: Bernard Gagnon)

[baebeylik]

Vessel with a Face and Hunting Scenes. Sasanian Iran. 6th to 7th Century.

The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg.

[memorymeltme]

[therationaldispatch]

Apranik was the commander of the Persian army, who defended Iran against the invading Arab-Muslim forces during the reign of Shah Yazdegerd III (632-651 CE). She was famed for riding a white horse. Eventually she fell in battle defending her homeland.

If you're interested in this topic, check out this article, titled "Twelve Great Women of Ancient Persia": https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1493/twelve-great-women-of-ancient-persia/

[artifacts-archive]

Bowl with Wheel-Cut Facets

Iran, Sasanian, ca. 6th–7th century CE

[wtf-fun-factss]

Khosrow I's seige of Antioch ended with him moving the entire city. Click to read the full fact.

[pollyj]

"Bahram Gur and the Indian Princess in the Dark Palace on Saturday"

Folio 23v from Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja

Author: Nizami (present-day Azerbaijan, Ganja, 1141–1209)

Calligrapher: Maulana Azhar

Place: Afghanistan, Herat, ca. 1430

Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

The artist has achieved superb color harmony while still conveying the darkness of the pavilion required by the text. The perfection of such patterns as the tile work, and such details as the trays holding bottles, cups and fruit for the royal pair are characteristic of the supremely high quality of these Herat miniatures.

Nizami’s poem, composed in 1197, explores the life of the Sasanian ruler Bahram Gur. Opening with descriptions of Bahram’s prowess as a hunter and closing with accounts of his actions as ruler, the work is mainly structured around the weekly rotation of the ruler’s visits among the palaces of seven different princesses. Each of the princesses comes from a different region of the world, wears clothing of a specific color, and entertains Bahram with a story that is both sensual and edifying.

[estera-shirin]

Fork with heart—Qasr-i Abu Nasr, now Iran, 6th or 7th century CE

According to the Met: "This bronze tool, or fork, has two long prongs and is attached to its handle with a heart shaped decorative element.

The small town and fortress of Qasr-i Abu Nasr is located near Shiraz in southern Iran at a strategic point at the intersection of defensive mountains, available water sources, and along roads entering the Shiraz plain. The site was excavated by archaeologists from The Metropolitan Museum of Art for three seasons from 1932-1935. The town was occupied, at least intermittently, from the Parthian period (3rd century B.C.–3rd century A.D.) to the Muzaffarid period (13th-14th century A.D.). The major occupation, including the extensive fortress, dates to the Late Sasanian period (6th-7th century A.D.).

The eastern part of Qasr-i Abu Nasr is a raised plateau of a roughly triangular shape. During the Sasanian period the plateau was fortified by a wall and densely occupied. Archaeological finds from the fortress show a wide range of defensive and administrative practices."