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Tiny Sasanian Bird Carving Discovered Beside a Pahlavi Inscription in Iran
A tiny Sasanian bird carving discovered beside a Pahlavi inscription in southern Iran may offer a rare glimpse into religious ideas during the empire’s final centuries. The carving was documented in the Marvdasht plain of Fars Province, close to a Pahlavi inscription associated with the salvation and fate of the soul. At only 3 by…
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Ancient Helmets and Jewelry Reveal a Forgotten Sasanian Experiment with Brass
A golden shimmer on a hairpin. A thin metal strip on a helmet. A small rivet hidden inside an old museum object. At first glance, these details may seem minor. But new scientific research suggests they preserve a neglected chapter in the technological history of the Sasanian Empire. A study of copper-alloy finds from Merv…
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Newly Found Needle-Carved Portrait of a Sasanian King Emerges in Istakhr’s Cliffs
A finely incised, needle-carved image believed to represent a Sasanian king has been identified on the cliffs overlooking the ancient city of Istakhr in southern Iran, according to archaeologist Abolhassan Atabaki. The carving, faint yet deliberate, depicts a crowned ruler accompanied by a crescent moon, a star, and a crenellated diadem — motifs strongly associated…