A Persian-Achaemenid gorytos fitting from the age of the Persian Wars, circa 500 B.C.Gorytos fitting of gold plate, decorated with griffin heads and Vitruvian scroll along the long edge. Furthermore, three stylised deer heads. Small holes along the rims to attach the fitting to leather or cloth. On the base slight groove for the arrowheads. A few small hair cracks and pressure marks. Good overall condition without additions. Length 59 cm. Width 6.5 cm. Weight 200 g. The gorytos was a combination quiver worn at waist level on the belt. It was used to store not only the arrows but also the bow. Due to the material, the present golden fitting is likely to belong to a Persian archer, possibly of the palace guard of the Great King. Reliefs from the palace of Persepolis show such guardsmen with gorytoi. Stylistically, the object can be dated to the beginning of the 5th century B.C. and thus to the time of the Greek-Persian wars, where also Persian guard units were involved. This makes it a historically extremely important collector's item!Provenance: Private collection Rhineland-Palatinate. Gorny & Mosch, auction 248, 2017, lot 368.Condition: II