Sasanian royals gifts of silver
Sasanian silver plates were usually hammered into shape and then decorated using a variety of complex techniques. Gilding was often used to highlight the hunter, usually the king, and sometimes extra pieces of metal were added to create high relief. The king as hunter became a standard image on silver plates during the reign of Shapur II (r. 310–379 CE). The motif symbolizes the prowess of Sasanian rulers, and these royal plates were often sent as gifts to neighboring and vassal courts. Some plates included inscriptions with the king's name and the plate's weight. With other plates, art historians must attempt to identify the king by his distinctive apparel or shape of the crown he wears. Each Sasanian king wore a different personal crown, which became more and more elaborate during the four centuries of the dynasty. Fortunately, the different crowns have been identified from coins or sometimes compared with existing rock reliefs with inscriptions such as those a...