117 Shushan Glazed Bricks

Museum Description: Glazed Brick Guardsman

Room: 52/Case: 5/Number: 132525

Scripture: Esther 1:2

These glazed brick are from the palace at Susa, known as Shushan in the Bible.  This was the city of Esther and Mordecai, where Nehemiah was cupbearer to Artaxerxes, and was even where Daniel was taken in his vision of the ram and male goat.  Just think!  Those Bible characters could well have looked upon these very tiles you are now seeing.  This image is of a Persian guardsman.  Persians were particularly famous for being expert archers.  They even invented the 'Parthian shot' where, at a full gallop, they would turn around on their horse and fire backward at anyone who was following.  This guardsman is evidently one of the one thousand special royal guards, known as the 'Immortals'.