Procession of Nobles
Unknown Artist
100–150 CE
Medium
limestone
Dimensions
57.7 × 120.7 × 34.5 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1970.15
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Palmyra was a key center for trade between the Roman and Parthian Empires. This unique relief has been associated with Palmyra only through stylistic comparisons; it is not known where it was found on the site. It depicts men in Parthian dress riding Arabian horses with bejeweled harness trappings ahead of riders on camels—a possible reference to the caravans that made Palmyra so wealthy. Although all of the riders are dressed and equipped as Parthians, the proportions and perspective of the sce...