The sun glinted off the marble columns of the Great Palace as Princess Ardashira stepped from her saffron-draped litter onto the mosaic floor of Constantinople’s grand vestibule. Her retinue bowed to the carved reliefs of eagle and dragon, reminders of empires long at odds—yet today bound by a fragile peace. Silken banners of purple and gold fluttered overhead as she was led before the emperor’s son, whose imperial tunic gleamed beneath the basilica’s cavernous dome.

“I bring the goodwill of Sasanian Persia and a humble gift of pomegranate wine. That I hope we can drink for future peace between our people.”