Thread by @HawkeJon

💥The Amazing #Ancient Persian Gold and Silver Oxus Treasure👑👀💥

(A thread 1/6)👇

An incredible treasure discovered near the Oxus River is one of the most precious collections of ancient #Persian artifacts known to us today.

#FindsFriday #History #art

Around 180 pieces of #jewelry, metalwork and statuettes, and about 200 coins have survived, but the original cache was much bigger. Comprised of stunning #gold and #silver artifacts, the #treasure is an impressive example of ancient #wealth. (2/6)

#FindsFriday #art #Archaeology

The Oxus #Treasure was discovered about 1877-1880. The exact place and date of the find remains a mystery. Kobadiyan has been suggested as most likely place. (3/6)

#FindsFriday #History #Art

Gold & Silver statuettes of bearded men (British Museum)

The hoard was almost lost completely when merchants that had bought the #treasure from local villagers. Were set upon by tribesmen east of #Kabul and the treasure siezed. A servant managed to escape and raised the alarm to Cpt. E C Burton (4/6)

#FindsFriday #History #art

Burton set off with orderlies and fell upon the robbers, who had settled for the night in a nearby cave. They were already squabbling over dividing the treasure. Four lay wounded. A parley ensued and much but not all of the treasure was retrieved(5/6)

#FindsFriday #art #History

Most of the #metalwork dates from the 6th - 4th C BC. The coins found showed a greater dating range. The find is one of the most important survival of #Achaemenid work in #precious metal.
The British Museum now has nearly all the surviving pieces (6/6)
#FindsFriday #History #art