Arrowhead

Unknown

ca. 4th century BCE · Bronze · Ancient Near Eastern Art

This is a bronze socketed trilobate (i.e., ‘three-bladed’) javelin head. It is about twice the size of an arrowhead, but too small to be a spearhead. It was excavated 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. The Tall-i Takht is an elevated platform that was presumably intended as the site of Cyrus’ palace. In later years it served as a fortified citadel, and this spearhead probably dates to this period of later use.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 4th century BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Seleucid

Department

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Credit line

Purchase, H. Dunscombe Colt Gift, 1978