Cleveland Museum of Art

Dish with King Hormizd II or Hormizd III Hunting Lions

Date

400–600 CE

Medium

silver gilt

Culture

Iran, Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE)

Department

Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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). 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.

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