This illustrated book highlights thirty-five magnificent objects featured in the exhibition Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World.
For over twelve hundred years, Persia, the historical name for ancient Iran, was the dominant nation of western Asia, with three successive dynasties—the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian—controlling an empire of vast and unprecedented size, extending at its height from the borders of Greece to northern India. No understanding of ancient Greek and Roman culture is possible without considering the far-reaching exchanges that took place with Persia. This souvenir book presents the breathtaking material evidence of those interactions by highlighting thirty-five objects from the exhibition Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World, on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa, Malibu, from April 6 to August 8, 2022. The complete exhibition catalogue can be found here.
These exquisite works of art, including vessels, weapons, jewelry, coins, sculpture, and more, served as expressions of political power, demonstrating how the ancient Iranians, Greeks, and Romans each constructed their own image and strongly influenced that of their rivals.
By signing up, you agree to receive promotional communication from The Getty Store.
