Cleveland Museum of Art
Fire Altar Intaglio
- Date
- c. 400 CE
- Medium
- chalcedony
- Culture
- Iran, Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE), reign of Hormizd II (303–309)
- Department
- Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
A Zoroastrian fire altar is carved into this chalcedony intaglio, consisting of a pedestal, pillar, and bowl for an eternal flame. A bird perches above the altar bowl and fish flank the pedestal. A carved star decorates the backside. A pierced hole through the gemstone suggests it once hung on a cord around a neck or wrist. Although the fire altar is a Zoroastrian religious symbol, birds and fish also occur in Christian iconography. Seal stones served as signatures and seals for documents.
The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.
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