The Persians

The Persian Empire, known as the Achaemenid Empire, was pretty big, covering a great deal of the lower part of Asia and extending into parts of northern Africa. It began in 550 BCE, and ended in 330 BCE when Alexander the Great took over.

Persian relief from the 5th century BCE depicting a charioteer and his horse. Having been displayed on the wall of a staircase, the stone relief shows one way the Persians made use of art as decoration. 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/s/stone_relief,_charioteer.aspx

Calcite jar from 486-465 BCE. The jar features text which reads “Xerxes Great King” in several languages: Old Persian, Elamite, Babylonian, and Egyptian. Interestingly, the Old Persian script from the Achaemenid Empire almost always has another language with it. http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/c/calcite_jar.aspx

Cylinder seal depicting Darius the king shooting a lion with bow and arrows from his chariot. Surrounding him are palm trees and the familiar multi-language text (in this case Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian), reading “Darius the great king.” 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/a/agate_cylinder_seal.aspx

We see the intricacy of the Persian metal work in this golden chariot model from 5th-4th centuries BCE. It is interesting to note the similarities between this chariot and the previous two chariots captured in other mediums.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/g/gold_model_chariot.aspx

This clay cylinder known as the Cyrus Cylinder is thought of as one of, if not the first declaration of human rights, as it recounts Cyrus’s invasion of Babylon and his humane deeds following that event. The full translated text can be seen here: 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=327188&partId=1

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/persian-cyrus-cylinder-is-artifact-of-human-rights/Content?oid=2539341

Silver plaque from about 200 CE apparently depicting some sort of gifting from people to a kingly figure.  

http://sadighgallerypersian.moonfruit.com/#/gallery/4568865769

Achaemenid Empire gold daric coin. Depicted on it is a Persian king holding a bow and spear, demonstrating the value that was placed on the king’s image as a military leader.

http://www.spurlock.illinois.edu/collections/artifact/

Gold fluted bowl from the Achaemenid Empire. Made in the fifth or fourth centuries BCE, bowls like this served both as items to be gifted to royalty as well as items for trade based on the value of the metal from which they were made.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/54.3.1

Gold vessel with lions head from fifth century Achaemenid Empire. Particularly notable is the intricate artistry demonstrated in the cup. According to the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 

"The upper band of the vessel is decorated with 136 feet of twisted wire in 44 even rows, and the roof of the lion's mouth is raised in tiny ribs. Typical of Achaemenid style, the ferocity of the snarling lion has been tempered and restrained by decorative convention. The lion has a crest running down his back; his mane has the disciplined appearance of a woven material; and his flanks are covered by an ostrich plume. The inclusion of the plume, a departure from convention, suggests that this lion is winged and has some supernatural significance."

Vessel terminating in the forepart of a lion [Iran] (54.3.3)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/54.3.3 (October 2006)

Ruins from the great city of Persepolis which was almost completely destroyed by Alexander the Great’s conquest.

http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/image/70256133