Arrowhead

Unknown

4th–3rd century BCE · Bronze · Ancient Near Eastern Art

This is a bronze socketed trilobate (i.e., ‘three-bladed’) arrowhead. It was discovered in an unstratified context at the Tall-i Takht at Pasargadae, about 55 miles northeast of Shiraz, Iran. Pasargadae was founded by Cyrus the Great (reigned ca. 550-530 B.C.) as the first capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Trilobate arrowheads were once associated with the Scythians and Cimmerians, nomadic peoples from the Eurasian steppe who invaded the Near East in the 8th century B.C. However, this type of arrowhead appears far and wide in space and time, indicating it was widely used in the ancient Near East, doubtless on account of its efficacy at piercing armor. More than 3000 of them were found at Persepolis, which replaced Pasargadae as the Achaemenid capital, suggesting that this was the standard type of arrowhead used by the Persians.

Artist

Unknown

Date

4th–3rd century BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Achaemenid or Seleucid

Department

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Credit line

Purchase, H. Dunscombe Colt Gift, 1978