Carved limestone stela with a figure of a god
Probably Parthian, late 2nd - early 3rd century AD
From Masjid-i-Suleiman, western Iran
Hermes, the messenger god, or a local counterpart
This grey limestone stela comes from the religious terrace-site
of Masjid-i Soleiman in the kingdom of Elymais in western Iran, a
semi-autonomous regional centre within the Parthian empire.
Although the figure has been identified as either Athar, god of
fire, or as Herakles, it probably depicts Hermes, the Greek
messenger of the gods, or his local counterpart. He seems to have
wings on his head and, like Hermes, he carries a bag in one hand
and a staff - or at least an object that may be a staff - in the
other.
During the first two centuries of Parthian dominance the
originally nomadic Parthians had continued to be strongly
influenced by Hellenism, but by the first centuries AD a new spirit
of independence appeared in their art, which moved away from Greek
styles. The introduction of frontality also marked a break with
previous Near Eastern tradition (while heads had previously been
shown frontally, the lower part of the body had always been shown
in profile). This continued under the later Sasanians and was
eventually adopted into Byzantine art.
J. Curtis, Ancient Persia-1 (London, The British Museum Press, 2000)
D. Collon, Ancient Near Eastern art (London, The British Museum Press, 1995)