Two Medes - Relief from Persepolis

Two Medes
relief from Persepolis
courtesy of livius.org [1]

Phiale with inscription

Phiale with inscription

499-400 B.C.E.
Achaemenid period
Reign of Artaxerxes I (465-425 B.C.E.)
Silver
Iran

Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC, USA 

On the rim of this bowl is an inscription in Old Persian cuneiform, which names the Achaemenid Persian king Artaxerxes I (reigned 465–425 B.C.E.). The inscription has been translated as: "Artaxerxes the Great King, King of Kings, King of Countries, son of Xerxes the King, of Xerxes [who was] son of Darius the king; in whose royal house this silver saucer was made." Shallow bowls of this form, used for drinking wine, were made from various materials, including metal, glass, and ceramic. Royal vessels made of precious metal, like this one, were versatile forms of wealth; they could serve as royal tableware, be stored in the treasury, or be given away as gifts.

Fluted bowl

Fluted bowl 
Achaemenid Period 
reign of Darius I or II, 522–486 B.C. or 432–405 B.C.
Iran 
Gold
Metropolitan Museum of Art