CIRCA 5TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.

Within the tondo of this hemispherical bowl is an incised peahen enclosed within a zigzag border. Peafowl were symbols of court life in the Sasanian world. Birds in general were closely associated with Ohrmazd, the great god and the power of good in Zoroastrian religion, where they had the function of opposing the vermin creation of Ahreman, the spirit of evil (see p. 63 in P.O. Harper, The Royal Hunter, Art of the Sasanian Empire). For a footed silver bowl similarly engraved see no. 26 in A.C. Gunter and P. Jett, Ancient Iranian Metalwork in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art.