The Sasanians, whose homeland was in southwestern Iran in the region of Persepolis, traced their lineage back to the Achaemenids, the founders of the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great. For four hundred years, from AD 224 to 651, the Sasanian dynasty was a formidable force, rivaling the late Roman Empire. Their rule, which extended over a realm comparable to that of Rome and Byzantium, marked the end of the pre-Islamic Persian empires. 

The use of richly decorated precious metal plates and drinking cups reveals the luxurious taste held by Sasanian royalty and the wealthy lords of the empire. Like this beautiful silver-gilt drinking bowl, finely crafted silver vessels are the most renowned Sasanian objects. This stunning vessel is covered with vivid compass-drawn, six-petaled mercury-gilt rosettes and circles that stand out against a black niello inlay, producing a vibrant contrasting effect. Sasanian designs usually consisted of subjects with a symbolic or religious meaning, and this use of rosettes might not have been merely decorative. It continues imagery from earlier ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian civilizations, where rosettes often represent deities. In this case, the rosettes might have been associated with water, fruitfulness, and prosperity. 

The Sasanian rule in Iran, culminating with the Arab invasion in AD 642, marked the zenith of ancient Iranian culture before the Muslim conquest. The rich Persian culture that flourished under the Sasanians was the foundation for much of Islamic culture, leaving an indelible mark on the Muslim world’s art, architecture, music, literature, and philosophy.