A SASSANIAN BANDED AGATE ELLIPSOID

CIRCA 4TH-5TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A SASSANIAN BANDED AGATE ELLIPSOID
circa 4th-5th century a.d.
Engraved with a lamassu, the human-headed winged bull, in profile to the left, with a mustache and pointed beard, wearing a turban with a roll of hair at the back of the neck, a small hare below, framed by an inscription reading "Adurbad the Magian, friendly and straight"
1 in. (2.58 cm.) wide

Provenance

Mohsen Foroughi Collection

Literature

Gignoux and Gyselen, Sceaux sasanides de diverses collections prives, no. 40.38.
Frye, "Sassanian Seals in the Collection of Mohsen Foroughi" in Corpus Inscriptionum Iranicarum, no. 128.

Lot Essay

The name Adurbad is common among the Zoroastrian clergy. The most famous was Adurbad, son of Mahraspand, who was High Priest under Shapur II (309-379 AD)

Special thanks to Dr. P. Oktor Skjaervo for his assistance.