Ancient Near Eastern. <em>A Persian Guard</em>, 5th–4th century B.C.E. Limestone, 10 1/2 x 9 x 1 7/8 in. (26.6 x 22.8 x 4.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Kevorkian Foundation in memory of Hagop Kevorkian, 65.195. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 65.195_view1_PS2.jpg)

Ancient Near Eastern. A Persian Guard, 5th–4th century B.C.E. Limestone, 10 1/2 x 9 x 1 7/8 in. (26.6 x 22.8 x 4.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Kevorkian Foundation in memory of Hagop Kevorkian, 65.195. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 65.195_view1_PS2.jpg)

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Does the museum have possession of the rest of the relief from which this fragment comes?

That is a good question! This is the only fragment of the relief that the Museum owns. If you look closely, you'll see the hand, shield, and spear of another guard standing behind the one whose head we see. This Persian guard demonstrates a typical hairstyle from his time and place. Hair and clothing are often these easiest way to tell where a person is from in ancient art.

A Persian Guard

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

The Achaemenid rulers of Persia (modern Iran) established an empire that lasted from 559 b.c. until it was conquered by Alexander the Great in 330 b.c. By that time, the Persian Empire controlled an area extending from Egypt through present-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey into India. The Achaemenid kings built huge palace complexes at Persepolis and Pasargadae in southern Iran and hired craftsmen from throughout the world to decorate them with sculpture and reliefs.

This fragment shows the upper body of a palace guard holding a round shield in one hand; in his other hand, now lost, he held a spear. His hair and beard are elaborately curled, and he wears a tall, fluted hat. Behind him is the hand of another guard with a shield and spear.

CULTURES Ancient Near Eastern; Persian; Achaemenid

MEDIUM Limestone

Place Made: Persepolis, Iran

DATES 5th–4th century B.C.E.

PERIOD Persian Achaemenid Period

DIMENSIONS 10 1/2 x 9 x 1 7/8 in. (26.6 x 22.8 x 4.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 65.195

CREDIT LINE Gift of the Kevorkian Foundation in memory of Hagop Kevorkian

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Ancient Near Eastern. A Persian Guard, 5th–4th century B.C.E. Limestone, 10 1/2 x 9 x 1 7/8 in. (26.6 x 22.8 x 4.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Kevorkian Foundation in memory of Hagop Kevorkian, 65.195. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 65.195_view1_PS2.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 65.195_view1_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Does the museum have possession of the rest of the relief from which this fragment comes?