This article reconsiders the religio-ritualistic interpretations of the use of the rhyton within 8th-century CE Sogdiana. Through a close art-historical analysis, I argue that three 8th-century wall paintings from Panjikent illustrate a drinking game. This proposal expands the current breadth of meaning attributed to the imagery decorating Sogdian homes. Not only could the paintings illustrate epic narratives, religious veneration, or moral didacticism, but they could also celebrate conviviality, fun, & humor.
“A Sogdian Drinking Game at Panjikent,” Iranian Studies, volume 52, no. 5-6 (2019): 837-857.
link to article at Iranian Studies online
“Fashion and the Feast,” The Friends of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art, Spring Event, The Met, April 2018