Thread by @iran_antigua

A question arose re headwear of ancient Iranians. So I will try to provide a clear answer:

Ancient Iranian beliefs provided that the elements should not be polluted. That includes earth & fire

There were 2 general ways to achieve this: 1) Kyrbasia; 2) Padām (MP) = Padan

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1) Kyrbasia: (Old Persian: *kurpāsa) was a type of headgear with additional fabric to cover the mouth or part of face

It is erroneously referred to as a Bashlyk, the Turkic word for a similar headwear

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It appears in Achaemenid era and close to that time, the Kyrbasia was preferred, or at least we see it in surviving depictions.

Here we see the complete Iranian riding attire, @mihomuseum

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Someone, not necessarily a priest, is wearing the Kyrbasia, kandys or long coat, over a short, belted tunic, pants, short boots with rounded toes



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We generally see servants, soldiers, and priests wearing face coverings, never the king of kings

Examples of Kyrbasia from Achaemenid era

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A few other Achaemenid examples. 1-2: Greek depictions of Persians

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A few other Achaemenid examples of Kyrbasia

1: in open form

And why write about history in these difficult and tragic times? Because we ought to learn about ourselves, our history & culture. That is my role here. And not everything should be about tragedy. We also need hope

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In the most tragic of times, we also need voices telling us about our past and our future. About our ancestors and how they lived.

The Achaemenid satraps and early Arsacids continued use of Kyrbasia. Here Seleucid Governor of Parthia

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Among the Frataraka

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frataraka

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And early Arsacids: all in open form, on the back the king is still wearing Iranian clothing (long, riding coat), even though there are Greek elements and Greek writing on the coin

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2) Padan, padam, padām (MP): A white cloth mask used by a mobed during ceremonies to keep breath from directly touching the fire. Av. equivalent is 'paitidana'. PGuj. 'penom'. (Var: Paz. 'panãm', 'penûm'

These from Mount Khajeh: early Sasanian period, are likely Padam

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The full Kyrbasia is really not as common, if ever used, in later Parthian, Sasanian and later eras.

In its place are various ways to cover mouth or part of face not to pollute the elements, including fire

Here for example 1: Sogdian; 2: Sasanian servant covering his mouth

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In #Sogdian depictions (1-2),

Akchakhan-Kala, Khwarazm, Pairs of assistant priests of Sraosha with barsoms (top part) (3)

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And modern use of padām by Zoroastrian priests (mobeds)

Perhaps we could call image 4 types of ancient Kyrbasia and could argue this headwear was used until recently among Zoroastrians. But it's hard sometimes to distinguish Padām from Kyrbasia in some depictions.

Also see these Achaemenid-era examples

1: "Clay sculpture of a male head (Bactrian Satrap) with beard and Persian kyrbasia (cap) in a naturalistic style" photo from @hausibek

3 more examples

1-2: post-Sasanian, appears to be Padam
3: Sasanian, also awkward depiction of face covering in the style of Padam and not as part of the headwear