احسان خوانساری نژاد

The assemblage of our archaeological data and findings regarding the early Roman-Sasanian interactions is very limited. During the recent survey of the Dehlorān Plain, an accidental coin find (discovered by a passerby, Mr. A. Hosseini) was handed over to the members of the expedition. The highly corroded and perforated coin belongs to the Singara issues of Gordian III (238-244 AD), the young Roman emperor whose reign coincided with the first series of Sasanian incursions led by Ardashir I and his successor, Shapur I. Not only it is one of the few known findings that relate to this tumultuous era, it has been discovered in the vicinity of Roman Mesopotamia, where most of the fighting took place. In this article, in addition to describing the coin, the authors have discussed the historical context of this period and the possible entry scenarios of this coin into the territory of the Sasanian Empire. 

The artistic background of the Good Shepherd motif can be traced to ancient eras of the East and the West. This motif later gained prominence in early Christian art. The ram-bearer (carrying a sacrificial or an offering animal) first appeared in Near Eastern art and later became an important motif in Greco-Roman art to represent certain roles of the god Hermes. This motif was considered by Christian converts as a symbol of Jesus Christ, as they represented him in the figure of a young shepherd caring for his flock. This theme can also be seen on some Sasanian seals, which can be considered as the Good Shepherd motif. In this article, the authors introduce the aforementioned motif depicted on these seals and examine their possible connection with the Christian communities. The motif of the Good Shepherd, as seen on the seals, demonstrates modifications in the original iconography. These changes can be observed in the longer dress of the ram-bearer or the engraving of celestial symbols. These modifications are probably a sign of the localization process of an imported motif in the Sasanian Empire.