Chris’ Considerations

Persia was a powerful empire frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. For example, see an earlier post about the Cyrus Cylinder. Today’s treasure comes from the royal palace at Susa and date from the time of Esther, who became Queen to King Ahasuerus who reigned from 486BC to 465BC. See Esther 2:16-17.

It is great to have these artefacts that illustrate wealth of the Persians, as well as confirming the kind of thing mentioned in the Bible. Above: A gold chariot from Persia, from the time of Esther. We can read about the lavishness of the court of Ahasuerus in the book of Esther:

…in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the capital, in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. … he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa, the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.
Esther 1:2-7, (ESV)

Above: A gold jug from Susa dating from the time of Esther.

Above: A glazed panel of brick from the Achaemenid palace at Susa depicting a Persian archer, 6th century BC. Would Queen Esther have looked upon this panel? Quite possibly!

Above: A gold bracelet which forms part of the so-called Oxus Treasure that dates from the 5th to the 3rd centuries BC. It highlights the wealth of the Persians.

Credit again must go to to Masters, Anderson and Edwards for my information.