“Luxury and power: Persia to Greece” at the British Museum

Gold armlet (part of the Oxus Treasure), Tajikistan, 499–300 BC (Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum)

Iran is certainly enjoying a moment through a series of international exhibitions. In 2021, the V&A Museum had “Epic Iran” whose tickets sold out upon release. In Los Angeles, the Getty Villa had “Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World”. In 2023, the British Museum has now added, “Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece”.

Through the display of 160 objects, the exhibition at the British Museum re-examines the supposed ancient Greek aversion to the excess and luxury of corrupt ancient Persia. Through close analysis of artifacts over a 500-year period, the restrained elegance believed to have been associated with democratic ancient Athens is put under the magnifying glass.

bm01

Athens became wealthy following the Greco-Persian wars and luxurious Eastern objects began to arrive in abundance into ancient Greece. “Nothing in excess,” said the inscription on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. While displays of wealth were considered vulgar and a reminder of the reasons for the Persians’ downfall, ancient Greeks nevertheless could be seen to imitate Persian modes of luxury.

The first part of the exhibition presents the ancient Achaemenid empire founded by Cyrus II and explores the Persian style of kingship. In the second part of the exhibition, one can begin to witness Persian influences percolating into Greece. Finally, following Alexander the Great’s conquering of Persia, a synthesis of Persian and Greek forms associated with the Hellenistic age emerge.

bm02

Drinking vessels, rhytons, feature prominently in this exhibition. Ornate metal rhytons featuring animals were used decadently at ancient Persian royal banquets. The arrival of these in ancient Greece fueled demand for these vessels. The Greek potters skillfully adapted and imitated these luxurious Persian metal rhytons into cheaper clay replicas for the Greek market.

Panagyurishte Treasure; © Todor Dimitrov, National Museum of History, Bulgaria
Panagyurishte Treasure (Photo: Todor Dimitrov, National Museum of History, Bulgaria)

The star exhibit is the Panagyurishte Treasure (c 3000 BCE), discovered by three brothers digging for clay in 1949 in modern-day Bulgaria. The golden hoard is a striking example of the ingenuity of craftsmen working during the Hellenistic age. It weighs 6.2 kg and brilliantly combines Greek and Persian themes.

 

The exhibition’s choice of Persian luxury as a theme is in some unfortunate counterpoint to the UK’s current cost-of-living crisis. Hospital, education, transport and postal workers are planning ongoing strikes while inflation spirals out of control. A series of interest rate hikes have already dented domestic luxury spending and tourism numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels.

Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece, James Fraser, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, Henry Bishop-Wright (British Museum, Thames & Hudson, May 2023)
Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece, James Fraser, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, Henry Bishop-Wright (British Museum, Thames & Hudson, May 2023)

Most visitors to the British Museum will struggle to afford the entrance fee of £15.00:it’s a luxury they sadly cannot afford. Although thankfully, they will delight in the free exhibits available to view throughout the Museum. Those who can afford the exhibition, will learn something new, that ancient Greece was indeed seduced by eastern luxury.

Luxury and power: Persia to Greece runs through August 13 in the Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery at the British Museum. A luxuriously bound, publication; Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece, written by James Fraser with Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones and Henry Cosmo Bishop-Wright accompanies the exhibition.

 

“Luxury and power: Persia to Greece” runs at the British Museum through 13 August 2023.

Farida Ali @farida_art is an art historian and writer. Her work has appeared in Scroll and elsewhere.