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HOME :
Near Eastern Art :
Parthian Art : Parthian Furniture Support Depicting the Head of Minerva
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Parthian Furniture Support Depicting the Head of Minerva - FZ.188
Origin: Northern Syria
Circa: 200
AD
to 400
AD
Dimensions:
5.625" (14.3cm) high
x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide
Catalogue: V4
Collection: Near Eastern
Style: Romano-Parthian
Medium: Bronze
£9,000.00
Location: UAE
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| Description |
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After the death of Alexander the Great, his
expansive empire was divided among three of his
most loyal generals, with Seleucis assuming
control of the eastern portion. The Seleucid
Dynasty was thereby established, following in
the footsteps of the Persian, Assyrian, and
Babylonian Empires, with its capitals at Antioch
(in modern Syria) and Seleucia (in modern Iraq).
However, as history has shown, maintaining calm
and order over such a large territory,
encompassing so many different cultures, proved
difficult if not impossible. In 245 B.C., the
Parthians revolted against the Seleucids under
the leadership of Satrap Andragoras, igniting a
civil war that would lead to further autonomy,
despite the continued recognition of the Greek
kings as their superiors. Although the Parthians
had been mentioned in Assyrian text as early as
the 7th Century B.C., it was not until the rise of
Mithradates I that the yoke of Seleucid control
was toss aside and Parthia reached the heights of
its glory. Mithradates the Great quickly
conquered the lands of Babylon, Media, and
Elam, establishing a great empire that would
rival Roman dominance and last until 224 A.D.
when the Sassanid Empire finally subjugated
their lands.
A sturdy object like this perhaps served as the
leg of a chair or couch whose frame was made
from perishable materials. Minerva (or Athena),
goddess of wisdom and war, stares out with
ever-vigilant eyes, her femininity suggested only
by her large pearl earrings. From this tantalizing
fragment we can imagine the entire piece,
perhaps a throne occupied by someone who
needed the guidance of the goddess.
- (FZ.188)
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