Thread by @PersiaAntigua

Earliest depiction of #Simurgh/ Senmurv (سیمرغ) in the world I am aware of: sealing, Excavated @ Bandian (بندیان), 5 C CE (i.e., 401 - 500), possibly reign of Bahram V

Firmly establishing this motif as #Sasanian. Now @ Great Museum of Khorasan (موزه بزرگ خراسان)

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Various seals & other objects were found @ Bandian. As far as I know, this particular one hasn't been fully published.

Some of the other sealings & seals from Bandian

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Some other important Sasanian objects @ Great Museum of Khorasan

4: excavated throne leg.

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If anyone has a better photo of this sealing I would appreciate if you could share.

The iconography reminds me of glass plaques @corningmuseum, Sasanian or slightly post-Sasanian

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I've talked about Simurgh a lot before. I've noted that Simurgh was a mythological bird who could talk and do a lot of other things, so we wouldn't expect it to just be a bird as Compareti keeps insisting.

I've also said any "scholar" who ignores unfavourable sources

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cannot and should not be taken seriously. These include mention of Simurgh in Bundahishn & Zadspram's book, as a composite creature which lactates/ gives milk

The other important dates are:

1: Taqe Bostan: built during reign of Khosrow II & before 628 CE, i.e,

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before Afrasiab Murals in Sogdiana (~ 648-651 CE)

As well as this very clearly Sasanian ewer with Senmurvs, 500-600 CE, Found in the Kharkov region, Ukraine

Among many other depictions of Simurgh I've talked about before.

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It's also possible this is a sort of Sasanian "dragon" as I discussed before, but that still does not rule it out as depiction of famous composite creature Simurgh.

Photo: Simurgh on clothing of ambassador @ Afrasiab