Achaemenid lion relief panel

Persian Gallery

The Robert and Deborah Aliber Persian Gallery welcomes you to trace the development of cultures of ancient Iran while gazing upon a colossal bull head from Persepolis, a dynastic center of the Achaemenid Empire that stretched from Egypt to Pakistan. Highlights include painted ceramics from Chogha Mish and Tall-e Bakun; limestone sculpture from Persepolis; a collection of Persian gold jewelry; and coins and ceramics from the early Islamic period. Also displayed are paintings of Persepolis by American artist Joseph Lindon Smith. The majority of the objects in this gallery were excavated by ISAC’s Persian Expedition (1931–39) at the sites of Persepolis, Tall-e Bakun, and Istakhr. Additional objects were excavated by ISAC’s Chogha Mish Expedition (1961–78).

I am Xerxes, great king, king of kings, king of lands of the totality of tongues, king of this great, far earth, son of King Darius, an Achaemenian, a Persian, son of a Persian, an Aryan, of Aryan stock.

King Xerxes Achaemenid foundation slab (5th century BCE)
Persian Gallery, showing bull head

Object Highlights

Painted beaker

Painted Beaker

Cone-shaped beaker, excavated at Tall-e Bakun, Iran.

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Egyptian blue wall peg

Egyptian-Blue Wall Peg

Section of a wall peg with an inscription of Darius, excavated at Persepolis, Iran.

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Persepolis column capital

Limestone Column Capital

Column capital with bull protomes from the Apadana (audience hall) at Persepolis, Iran.

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Persian Gallery, showing lion and bull

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