Gold Roundel with Winged Figure

This gold roundel from the Oxus Treasure (5th–4th cc. BC) shows a winged figure—likely a protective spirit or royal emblem—surrounded by beaded and vegetal motifs. Found near the Oxus River in today’s Tajikistan, the treasure reflects Achaemenid craftsmanship, where Iranian imperial imagery blended with local traditions. Its intricate design reveals how religion, kingship, and prestige intertwined across the eastern empire.