Mosaic fragment

ca. 3rd–7th century CE

Not on view

Written sources state that in 540, the Sasanian emperor Khusraw I (r. 531–79) decorated his palace at Ctesiphon with mosaics commemorating the Sasanian army's siege of the Byzantine city of Antioch. Excavations at the site uncovered fragments of mosaics with vibrant colors and gilding in the palace precinct. The use of a medium associated with Byzantine imperial architecture at the Sasanian capital is an example of the complex cultural and political exchanges made between the two empires.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Mosaic fragment
Period: Sasanian
Date: ca. 3rd–7th century CE
Geography: Mesopotamia, Ctesiphon
Culture: Sasanian
Medium: Glass, stucco, gilding (?)
Dimensions: 1.37 x 2 in. (3.48 x 5.08 cm)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1932
Object Number: 32.150.213
Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art

More Artwork

From the same culture

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Wall panel with wings and a Pahlavi device encircled by pearls, Stucco, Sasanian — Wall panel with wings and a Pahlavi device encircled by pearls
Sasanian
ca. 6th century CE

Fragment of a bowl with a frieze of bulls in relief, Steatite with chlorite — Fragment of a bowl with a frieze of bulls in relief
ca. 3300–2900 BCE

Mosaic fragment, Glass, stucco, pigment, Sasanian — Mosaic fragment
Sasanian
ca. 3rd–7th century CE

Relief fragment: cavalryman leading his horse beside a stream, Gypsum alabaster, Assyrian — Relief fragment: cavalryman leading his horse beside a stream
Assyrian
ca. 704–681 BCE

Archivolt fragment with vegetal design, Stucco, Sasanian — Archivolt fragment with vegetal design
Sasanian
ca. 6th century CE

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.