Silver medallion with an eagle from Sisian

A silver medallion of the 2nd century BC, excavated in Sisian, in the Syunik Province of Armenia. It depicts a golden eagle gripping a wild cat in its talons, most likely a leopard.

The symbol of the golden eagle was important in prehistoric motifs of the Armenian Highlands and in many Armenian dynasties of the past. This image comes from the Artashesid dynasty, to which King Tigran II the Great belonged, linked to the Yervanduni.

The medallion is round, its rim decorated with plant ornament. The eagle stands on the spotted animal.