LOT 1353

Achaemenid Gold Appliques Depicting Winged Lions

5TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.

1/2 in. (1.92 grams total, 15 mm each).

Comprising seven circular mounts, each with a repoussé winged lion, depicted in a seated pose with its head turned, pierced thrice through the outer rim. [7]

Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s.
Private collection, UK.

See the Oxus Treasure in the British Museum, London, registration nos. 1897,1231.28–30, for closely related examples.

Gold held immense significance in the Achaemenid Empire, not only as a symbol of wealth and divine favour but also as a practical medium for art, currency, and royal regalia. It was used in architectural decoration, lavish court objects, jewellery, and ceremonial ware, often reflecting the empire’s vast wealth and cosmopolitan reach. Among the prominent motifs in Achaemenid art is the lion-griffin—a mythical creature combining the body of a lion with the wings of an eagle. This powerful image, frequently seen in gold appliqués, seals, and metalwork, conveyed themes of imperial power, protection, and control over both terrestrial and celestial realms. The lion-griffin stood as an emblem of dominance and guardianship, befitting the grandeur of Persia’s imperial ideology.