Stone lunette Sogdian Tomb

An Jia sits at the bottom right, his wife at the bottom left. The half rooster-half man on either side is the God Srosh, who helps souls across the bridge to the next life. There are also the priests and they are wearing facemasks to protect the purity of the fire from their breath. The rather fluid minstrels above them are apsara, spirit creatures derived from Buddhism. Three camels in the centre carry a fire altar. Fire and water were two elements that played and important role in Zoroastrain rituals. The shape of the lintel itself suggests the bridge over which An Jia must travel to reach eternal life in Heaven.

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