Pot
Unknown Artist
ca. 9th century BCE
Medium
Ceramic
Dimensions
7.05 in. (17.91 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Vessels
Culture & Period
Iran · Iron Age II, Hasanlu Period IV
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Adelaide Milton de Groot Fund, in memory of the de Groot and Hawley families, 1976
Accession Number
1976.233.20
Art Historical Context
This modest yet evocative ceramic pot hails from ancient Iran during the Iron Age II, the Hasanlu Period IV, around the 9th century BCE. Unearthed from the rich archaeological site of Hasanlu in northwestern Iran, it offers a window into the daily lives of a pre-Achaemenid culture thriving in the rugged Zagros Mountains. Standing just 7.05 inches (17.91 cm) tall, this vessel exemplifies the practical artistry of a society transitioning into the Iron Age, where pottery served essential roles in storage, cooking, and ritual. Crafted from clay and likely fired in simple kilns, the pot reflects s...