Collection record · Belief & ritual
Fire Altar Intaglio
The collection record classifies this work as glyptic. It is dated c. 400 CE. Recorded culture or place: Iran, Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE), reign of Hormizd II (303–309).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Fire Altar Intaglio
- Date
- c. 400 CE
- Culture / origin
- Iran, Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE), reign of Hormizd II (303–309)
- Materials and technique
- chalcedony
- Dimensions
- Overall: 2.4 x 2 x 1.7 cm (15/16 x 13/16 x 11/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1954.593
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
A Zoroastrian fire altar is carved into this chalcedony intaglio, consisting of a pedestal, pillar, and bowl for an eternal flame. A bird perches above the altar bowl and fish flank the pedestal. A carved star decorates the backside. A pierced hole through the gemstone suggests it once hung on a cord around a neck or wrist. Although the fire altar is a Zoroastrian religious symbol, birds and fish also occur in Christian iconography.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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