---
title: Sassanian Plate with Winged Horses
author: Metropolitan Museum of Art
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11837/sassanian-plate-with-winged-horses/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Sassanian Plate with Winged Horses
_Authored by Metropolitan Museum of Art_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/11837.jpg)
## Image Caption
This gilded [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/) [Sasanian](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sasanian_Empire/) plate features an unusual scene that borrows from Graeco-[Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) prototypes and possibly Iranian ones as well. Two youths stand on platforms facing one another, each holding a staff and the reins of a winged horse, reminiscent of representations of the hero [Bellerophon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bellerophon/) and [Pegasus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pegasus/) as well as of the [Dioskouroi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castor_and_Pollux/) (the divine twins [Castor and Pollux](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castor_and_Pollux/)). Both horses bend their necks down to drink from a large vessel supported by a female figure, who appears in bust form emerging from a frieze of half-palmettes. She is most likely either a personification of water or the Iranian river goddess [Anahita](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anahita/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Art, M. M. o. (2020, February 03). Sassanian Plate with Winged Horses. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Art, Metropolitan Museum of. "Sassanian Plate with Winged Horses." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 03, 2020. .
### MLA
Art, Metropolitan Museum of. "Sassanian Plate with Winged Horses." *World History Encyclopedia*, 03 Feb 2020, .
## License & Copyright
© [Metropolitan Museum of Art](http://metmuseum.org/), NY. As part of the [Met's Open Access policy](https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/policies-and-documents/open-access), the Metropolitan Museum of Art has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this dataset. [Original image](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/325650) by [**Metropolitan Museum of Art**](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/325650). Submitted by [Ibolya Horváth](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/horvath.ibolya/ "User Page: Ibolya Horváth"), published on 03 February 2020. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.