Name/Title
BCE 0550 - 0350 Achaemenid Empire Silver RingDescription
Silver Ring with Animal-Head Terminals
Achaemenid Empire
This silver ring dates to the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian imperial state. The open-ended band terminates in opposed stylized animal heads, a decorative motif widely attested in Achaemenid personal adornment and associated with power, protection, and elite identity. The ring retains a natural burial patina and remains intact and wearable, offering a rare material link to everyday life within the ancient Persian world.Made/Created
Time Period
6th Century BCE, 5th Century BCE, 4th Century BCEPlace
* Untyped Place
Iran / Near EastNotes
Likely Origin:
Achaemenid Empire
* Core region: Southwestern Iran (Fars), Susiana, or Mesopotamia
* Alternative production zones: Anatolia or Levant (within imperial workshops)Jewelry Details
Method of Manufacture
Hand-fabricatedGemstones
Notes
Achaemenid rings of this type were produced using direct metalworking:
* Hammered and drawn rod construction
A silver ingot would be:
* Hammered into a rod
* Drawn or tapered
* Bent into a circular/open hoop
* Terminal modeling (serpent heads)
The ends were:
* Thickened by hammering
* Shaped by chasing and repoussé-like surface working
* Refined using engraving tools for:
* Eyes
* Jawline
* Scale suggestions
* Finishing
* Filing and abrasion smoothing
* Burnishing to produce a reflective surface
This aligns with broader Achaemenid metalworking traditions, which combine Near Eastern and Anatolian techniques into a distinctive imperial style.Ethnography
Cultural Region
* Untyped Cultural Region
Iran / Near EastDimensions
Diameter
28 mmWeight
4.19 gCondition
Overall Condition
Excellent; intact with original patinaCreate Date
October 12, 2025Update Date
April 27, 2026
