Three remarkable 2,500-year-old Achaemenid rhytons have been discovered in Isfahan, one of which has an inscription at the top reading ‘From the Royal Collection.’ Experts have confirmed their authenticity, describing them as ‘priceless artifacts.’ [800×557]

In a intelligence operation in Borkhar County of Isfahan, Iran, three rhytons (ritual drinking vessels) from the Achaemenid period were discovered and seized from antiquities traffickers. The artifacts were illegally excavated without a permit. After excavating the artifacts, the police surrounded the diggers’ house, but they refused to come out. Therefore, the police opened fire, and eventually, the diggers were forced to surrender. No injuries occurred during the exchange of fire, all the smugglers were arrested and transferred to prison. The police dispatched archaeologists and experts to verify the authenticity of the artifacts.

The three rhytons, two of which are made of gold, have been identified by experts as belonging to the Achaemenid era (550 – 330 BC). One of which has an inscription at the top reading ‘From the Royal Collection’, suggesting its either from Persepolis, or Ecbatana or Susa. They are considered priceless artifacts and have been transferred to the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization. Rhytons were often crafted in the form of various animals. Each animal symbolized a particular concept, and the ancients believed that when a person drank from such a rhyton, the strength and spirit of the animal would be transferred to them, granting power and greatness.

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