In a 2010 article published by “Sino-Platonic Papers” about the artistic influences of Sasanian Persian Empire (224-651), Heleanor Feltham claimed that the Iranian dynasty dominated the arts across the Silk Road even well after its fall by mid-7^th century… silk was prized across Eurasia… archaeological digs have found silk with the remains of Iranian Scythians as early as 5^th – 3^rd c. BCE… 

Feltham wrote that much of the prized silk was transmitted by peoples of Iranian stock such as the Sakas and the Scythians… even the Parthian dynasty of Iran (248 BCE – 224 CE) used silk for their banners as reported by the Romans… silk arrived in Rome via the Parthian Iranians… 

According to Feltham, Iranian designs, symbols, and motifs on silk were “greatly valued” and “widely copied” across Eurasia from Germany to Japan… even Western heraldry shows Iranian artistic influences… and these Iranian influences are still found in modern designs…

[pic animalsversesanimals: The Chinese word for lion is “shi”… based on Iranian word “shir”… listen to the word here http://dictionary.hantrainerpro.com/chinese-english/translation-shi_lion.htm ... for educational purposes only]