ticketsMember | Make a donation

Chessman

ca. 3rd–7th century CE
Not on view
Objects such as this one can present problems of interpretation when they are not preserved as part of a set. First recorded as a seal, it is now identified as a possible chessman. Chess, whose origin is traditionally attributed to India, is attested in Iran by the late Sasanian period.

The small town and fortress of Qasr-i Abu Nasr is located near Shiraz in southern Iran at a strategic point at the intersection of defensive mountains, available water sources, and along roads entering the Shiraz plain. The site was excavated by archaeologists from The Metropolitan Museum of Art for three seasons from 1932-1935. The town was occupied, at least intermittently, from the Parthian period (3rd century B.C.–3rd century A.D.) to the Muzaffarid period (13th-14th century A.D.). The major occupation, including the extensive fortress, dates to the Late Sasanian period (6th-7th century A.D.).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Chessman
  • Period: Sasanian
  • Date: ca. 3rd–7th century CE
  • Geography: Iran, Qasr-i Abu Nasr
  • Culture: Sasanian
  • Medium: Agate or chalcedony
  • Dimensions: 3/4 × 13/16 × 11/16 in. (1.9 × 2 × 1.8 cm)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1936
  • Object Number: 36.30.5
  • Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Standing man, Calcareous sandstone, Parthian
Standing man
Parthian
ca. 2nd century CE
Relief: two servants bearing food and drink, Limestone, Achaemenid
Relief: two servants bearing food and drink
Achaemenid
ca. 358–338 BCE
Beaker with bronze pin in base, Jasper conglomerate, bronze, Iran
Beaker with bronze pin in base
Iran
ca. 9th century BCE
Buttons, Enstatite, Iran
Buttons
Iran
ca. 9th century BCE
Bowl, Coral fossil, Iran
Bowl
Iran
ca. 9th century BCE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

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.