Name/Title
CE 0224 - 0651 Stone Seal. Sasanian Empire.Description
Winged Horse Seal
Sasanian Empire
224–651 CE
Green chalcedony (“green carnelian”), 13 mm
This miniature stone stamp seal depicts a winged horse with raised foreleg, surrounded by four small oval devices. Seals like this served as personal identifiers in the Sasanian Empire, functioning much like signatures when pressed into clay or wax on documents, goods, or containers. Many were also worn as pendants or amulets, as seen here in the perforation for suspension.
Winged horses were a recurring motif in Sasanian glyptic art, likely associated with royal authority, divine protection, speed, or good fortune. The simplified yet energetic carving reflects the stylized aesthetic common in late antique Persian seal engraving.
Comparable examples are recorded in the typology of Robert Göbl (No. 70a) and in collections including the British Museum.
From the St. Croix Collection.Create Date
April 29, 2026Update Date
June 29, 2026
