The first work of Art I chose is The Funerary Relief Burst Ancient Art work which was made during the 3rd century around 231 C.E .This Art work is two dimensional Art work made with Limestone with a Height of 60.1,Width of 55.3 and Diameter of 23.0 cm with inscriptions carved written in Aramaic which identifies a woman named Haliphat dated her death to around 231 C.E this burst originated from Palmyra, a city in Southern Syria that flourished during the Roman Empire as a caravan Oasis on the trade route linking both the Mediterranean together with west and Central Asia .The subject involves many members of Palmyra’s Prosperous merchant class commissioned such funerary burst as they depict fashionably dressed individuals involving women dressing wearing different elaborate jewelry .The burst covers the openings of burial compartments in family tombs located in the desert outside Palmyra. And I think what the artist is trying to signify is self-respect for the dead as they have done different good deeds during their lifetime and as different funerals is being conducted the burst would continue to guide their tomb while they are buried there.

Funerary Relief Burst

The second work of art is the 4th century plate made during the sasanian period with silver and gilt which was considered one of the most enduring royal images created back then as the design shows the King riding on a horseback hunting select Quarry boar, lion, antelope. The image was depicted on the interior of sliver plates then most of them have been found in Iran and neighboring countries as they are being produced in imperial workshops and they were given back then to high ranking individuals by the King himself which was scarce because back then the production of silver was controlled by a royal monopoly which can also be minted into coins or object only on the kings authority .Most of the figures on the plates are not labeled but can sometimes be identified by their crowns which are sometimes shown on coin portraits of individual sasanian kings.

Reference:
Ancient art Retrieved September 1, (2012) from http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/