Offering Plaques

  • ca. 5th century B.C.
  • Gold
Catalogue Entry

ca. 5th century B.C.
Gold
(a)H. 18.3 cm, W. 5.0 cm(b)H. 11.4 cm, W. 8.0 cm
cH. 17.0 cm, W. 4.6 cm(d)H. 9.3 cm, W. 4.6 cm
(e)H. 5.6 cm, W. 1.8 cm(f)H. 3.5 cm, W. 2.4 cm
(g)H. 5.3 cm, W. 2.0 cm(h)H. 2.5 cm, W. 0.9 cm
(i)H. 1.7 cm, W. 1.0 cm(j)H. 11.0 cm, W. 3.5 cm
Gold sheets are inscribed with flowers, or figures carrying flowers. Plaque a shows a woman facing to the left and holding flowers. She is adorned with earrings and a necklace. The head of another woman is depicted above this figure's head. Plaque b shows the bust image of a bearded priest facing the left, wearing a kyrbasia headgear, and holding a flower. Plaque c shows a priest walking to the left, wearing a kyrbasia headgear, with mouth and ear covered, and a flower in his left hand. The band attached to the bottom edge of the sheet is damaged. Plaque d shows a male figure wearing a Median garment and topped with a crown. He is walking to the left and holding flowers in both hands. His garment with wide sleeves resembles those worn by the kings and aristocrats shown in the relief carvings at Persepolis. Plaques e, g, h and j all show priests wearing kyrbasia headgear, with Plaques e and h's figures holding their flowers in their right hands while Plaques g and j figures hold them with their left hand. Plaque j's figure wears a kandys outer garment over his shoulders. Plaque f features stamped flowers and a hole in the bottom edge which is thought to have been used to attached a band to the sheet. Plaque I shows a Greek-style figure facing directly forward, wearing a sleeveless chiton and holding a flower in the left hand. The right hand is held down by the hip. The three-part flower is thought to represent a trident, and there are those who interpret this figure as the god of the river, Poseidon-Oxus.