Colburn Tag

Fig. 7: Phiale (bowl) inscribed in Old Persian, c. 465–424 BCE. Silver; Diam. 29.2 cm. Metropolitan Museum of Art 47.100.84. Public domain image from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

By ANE Today Editor

Art Trade & Economy

The Meaning(s) of Achaemenid Silver

A silver drinking cup given by the Achaemenid Persian king was worth more than its weight in metal — but exactly how much more?

2026-06/Achaemenid/Coins/Colburn/court/drinking vessels/gifts/objects/Persian/phiale/royal/siglos/silver/treasure