Report from Paris, France by Darius KADIVAR
The Exhibition entitled Les
Perses Sassanides, Fastes d'un Empire Oublié exhibits at the Cernuschi, Museum Paris, France 15th
September to 30th December 2006. More than 200 items are presented at the
exhibition and borrowed from the most prestigious international collections from
museums in the United States, Europe and Iran testify of the diversity of this
sumptuous art and of its various influences combining ancient Greek and
authentic Persian traditions.
The exhibition is held under the
patronage of the Cernuschi
Museum, Museum of Asian
Arts of the city of Paris and the
Department of Oriental Antiquities of the Louvre Museum.
The Sassanian Dynasty ruled for over
4 centuries (224-642), from the 2nd Century A.D. to the Arab
invasion. In 224 A.D. Ardeshir, a Prince of the region of Fars/Pars in the south
west of Iran, overthrows Artaban, the master of the Parthian Empire and creates
a new dynasty known as the Sassanian inspired by his ancestor Sassan. They will
rule for over than 4 centuries establishing itself as one of the
greatest empires of the Ancient World and much vaster than that of the
Aechemenid Empire which they consider themselves as the inheritors. At
crossroads between civilizations of the East such as China and of the West such as the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine, the Sassanians
imposed themselves as a major super power of its time.
The core of the Sassanian Art is the
glorified image of the King who is identified as the unifying force that holds
the empire together and represents the authority of the Crown. The King
dominates the court scenes, and is present in all Hunting and Banquet scenes
carved in the mountain or on most items such as ruby encrusted metal Vases and
artifacts.
©
Sassanian Elite Cavalry AD
224–642 OSPREY, Angus
McBride
The Kings court was equally
sumptuous with grand parties given for princes and nobles of allied kingdoms.
This ostentatious splendor encourages more "minor" arts. Silver dishes encrusted
by gold coins featuring the King, Cups and Amphora's decorated by symbols
related to Mazdean religion ( Pre-Islamic monotheistic religion) or shows dancers, musicians and jesters.
Fine Crockery, rich silk, ceremonial jewel encrusted swords and gold or silver
coins are displayed at the exhibition.
The diversity of the items presented
at this exhibition testifies if needed of the great aura and prestige of the
last Persian Dynasty before its fatal fall under the Muslim Conquest.
Author's notes:
-Recommended Reading : Sassanian Elite Cavalry AD 224–642 by Dr.
Kaveh Farrokh, Illustrated
by Angus McBride http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S7131
General Info:
Scientific Commissary invited :
Françoise
Demange, chief conservator of the Department of Oriental Antiquities of the
Louvre
Museum.
Commissaries: Gilles Béguin, General director
conservator of the Cernuschi museum.
Nicolas
Engel, Conservator of the Cernuschi museum
Press Contact:
Danièle
Guyot
Tél.
: 01 42 76 65 66
daniele.guyot@paris.fr
Musée Cernuschi
Maryvonne
Deleau,
PR & Press
Tel : 01 53 96 21 72 / fax : 01 53 96 21 96
Maryvonne.deleau@paris.fr
About the
Author: Darius
KADIVAR is a Freelance Journalist, Media Consultant, and European Correspondent
for the OCPC Magazine.
