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Near Eastern Art :
Parthian Art : Parthian Faience Vessel
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Parthian Faience Vessel - GF.0338
Origin: Israel
Circa: 1
AD
to 300
AD
Dimensions:
1.75" (4.4cm) high
Collection: Near Eastern
Medium: Faience
Additional Information: SOLD
$1,200.00
Location: United States
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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.
Though discovered in the Holy Land, this
adorable juglet was probably made in
Persia.
Parthian ceramics fall into the
transitional phase
between the ancient and the Islamic
period. They
combined ancient techniques with new
procedures to produce very fine and
delicate
works. The beautiful aqua of this
pitcher is
blended with white, creating a pattern
of light
and dark blue mottling. Its neck is
ridged on the
upper and lower portion, and the handle
too is
ridged to give it a relief effect. This
juglet
probably contained perfume or ointment
and
would have had a stopper or cap. Our
imagination soars when thinking of it
traveling
from far away Persia to the Holy Land;
perhaps
part of a beautiful young woman's
cosmetics
case. Within its simple form is still
contained the
romance of the past.
- (GF.0338)
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