AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE GOLD FIGURE OF HERCULES RIDING A LION, CENTRAL ASIA, PROBABLY BACTRIAN, CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY AD

Scientific Analysis Report: A certificate issued by Re. S. Artes on 18 February 2026, no. R 146031A-3, based on the analysis of a sample taken from under the back of the right foot, with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), finds that the gold alloy is homogenously composed of three elements: gold, copper, and silver, with no detection of modern elements such as aluminum or cadmium, consistent with the composition of ancient gold with no impurities or inconsistencies. A copy of the report accompanies the lot.
Alloy composition range: The alloy analytics report written and signed by Dr. Emmanuel Vartanian, indicates an alloy composition of 91.3% gold, 5.2% copper, and 3.5% silver.

Well modeled striding a lion bareback, the hands tightly clutching a sturdy club in both hands, the nude youthful hero with a muscular body, his thick curly hair and beard adding to his rugged demeanor. The feline beast stands foursquare with an animated expression on its gently raised face, the limber body detailed with a long scrolling tail, large paws with sharp claws, and a fierce expression on its face marked by large eyes and mouth agape revealing sharp teeth within, framed by its characteristic mane.

Provenance: Collection of the imperial family of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, last Shah of Iran. The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum, acquired from the above. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919-1980) was the last Shah (king) of Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow in the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979. He was the second and last monarch of the House of Pahlavi, following in his father Reza Shah's footsteps. His dream of what he referred to as a "Great Civilization" in Iran led to a rapid modernization of industry and military, as well as economic and social reforms, ultimately laying the foundation of the modern Iranian state. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe. In December 2025, he was awarded medals of national recognition by the Royal Government of Cambodia for his exceptional contributions to the scientific study, preservation, and international understanding of Angkor and Koh Ker. Zelnik founded the Hungarian Southeast Asian Institute in the early 2000s. The Institute supported a range of research programs at Angkor and Koh Ker, including archaeological surveys, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) investigations, epigraphic studies, and historical research. These efforts have contributed to a deeper understanding of the Angkorian empire, the pre-Angkor period, and Cambodia’s prehistoric times. Research supported by the institute played a key role in raising international awareness of Koh Ker and led to its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, some irregularities inherent to production, encrustations, nicks, scratches, dings, and one small loss to the back of the right ankle.

Weight: 203.3 g
Dimensions: Height 14 cm

Herakles (Roman: Hercules) is the hero of Greek epic literature celebrated for his strength and many feats of bravery and heroism. The subject can be identified by the club in his hands. Herakles was a popular figure throughout the Hellenistic world and was venerated throughout Greek-influenced Central Asia.

In Greek mythology, Heracles (Hercules) is traditionally identified by his club and the skin of the Nemean lion, slain as the first of his Twelve Labors. The knotted wooden club serves as his principal attribute and a symbol of his superhuman strength. While Dionysus (Roman: Bacchus), by contrast, is associated with wild felines—most commonly the panther, but also the tiger or lion in later representations, Heracles is frequently shown riding one of these animals or accompanied by them as part of his ecstatic retinue, reflecting his dominion over nature, instinct, and divine frenzy.

Between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD, Persia, Parthia, and Bactria formed a closely connected cultural and political continuum linking the Iranian plateau with Central Asia and northwestern India. This period was marked not by isolation, but by layered inheritance and active exchange. The enduring legacy of the Achaemenid Empire remained fundamental. Even after Alexander’s conquest and the Seleucid interlude, concepts of divine kingship, imperial administration, and courtly display continued to shape regional power structures. In Bactria, Hellenistic rule introduced Greek language and artistic conventions, yet these merged with longstanding Iranian traditions rather than replacing them. Coinage vividly reflects this synthesis, combining Greek portraiture with local dress, symbols, and deities.

The rise of the Parthian Empire in the mid-2nd century BC reasserted Iranian authority across much of the former Achaemenid world. Parthian rulers adopted earlier imperial models while incorporating Hellenistic visual forms, creating a distinctive artistic language characterized by formal, frontal representation. Their dominion stretched from Mesopotamia to eastern Iran, facilitating trade and diplomatic contact across regions. In Bactria and beyond, migrations of steppe peoples reshaped the political landscape, culminating in the emergence of the Kushan Empire in the 1st century AD. The Kushans unified Bactria with territories extending into northern India and controlled vital Silk Road networks. Their coinage and religious imagery demonstrate striking pluralism, integrating Greek inscriptions, Iranian gods, Indian motifs, and Buddhist iconography.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related gold standing figure, dated 1st-2nd century AD and attributed to the North-West frontier of the Kushan Empire (modern-day Punjab), 5.1 cm high, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IS.13-1948. Compare a related Bactrian gold appliqué depicting Aphrodite, found in Tillya tepe, Tomb VI, dated 1^st century AD, 5 cm high, in the National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul, accession number MK 04.40.9, and illustrated by Pierre Cambon, Afghanistan: Les trésors retrouvés, Collections du Musée National de Kaboul, 2007, p. 207, no. 135. Compare a related bronze figure of Hercules, Afghanistan, dated to the 1^st century, 7.3 cm high, in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, accession number EA1994.57.