CONNECTING WOMEN TO THE SILK ROADS Primary Sources Connect Women to the Silk Road

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Primary Source #5

Silver Vase

Gilded Sassanian vessel showing four dancers. 5th-6th century CE.

The four females decorating the body appear to be dancers, but this motif may be based upon the image of Anahita, a Persian goddess of royalty and war, but particularly associated with fertility. Luxury objects such as this were popular trade items traded along the Silk Road when Tang-era records tell us that Iranian culture was held in high esteem.

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CONNECTING WOMEN TO THE SILK ROADS
Introduction

Influential Women	Women and Silk Production	Exploring Primary Sources
Tang dynasty’s Wu Zetian	Making Silk	Primary Source Lessons
Princess Wencheng	Wearing Silk
Sorghaghtani Beki	Reviving Silk Traditions
Empress Irene