Thread by @PersiaAntigua

Study of Colour in #Sasanian Iran

We have enough reference materials for study & recreation of colours in Parthian-Sasanian eras

Photo: Etchmiadzin Gospels, likely 6-7 C CE depiction of 3 magi

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Together with refs to royal colours, like Hamza al-Isfahani's Tarīk̲h̲ sinī mulūk al-arḍ wa ’l-anbiyā, we can work on recreating colours of that era

I've talked about colours in Achaemenid era, though that needs updating. Previous threads on motifs etc:

Some references from Parthian era: we can certainly assume the colours did not change in Sasanian era, and like many other ways, the same colours were used later on as well

Ref 1: Parthian era textile with colours like purple

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Ref 2: Some depictions from Dura Europos

In photo 1 we see both Roman-style (middle) & Parthian-style clothing and colours

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Ref 2: Some depictions from Dura Europos

I'm only providing some examples here, not everything.

One important point is that in general, Iranians since antiquity have been the ones with colourful clothing. Greeks made fun of all the patterns & colours among various Iranian

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groups. Certainly, some of these colours like red shoes continued across Parthian & Sasanian eras, and we see the same royal sense of red shoes in Achaemenid era too. So some colour references should refer back to Achaemenid era as well, cautiously.

Ref 3: Parthian-era Edessa

Ref 4: Parthian king statue in private collection with reds, golden colour, black, other colours preserved

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Ref 5: Sasanian-era Merv Vase

A super detailed, important reference point. Every piece of this vase needs to be studied.

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Ref 5 cont.

The funerary practices, clothing of rider on horseback, other clothing, and overall style are undoubtedly Sasanian

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Ref 5 cont.

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Ref 6: piece of another Iranian vase or vessel

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Ref 7: Ghulbiyan

The focus here is just the preserved colours.

I'm also including colours in textiles & other media, which can be further divided for study

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Ref 8: Bishapur, early Sasanian

I'm only including some references here, 1-2 are mosaics

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Ref 9: Firuzabad, early Sasanian

These need to be properly published. But in 2 we may be able to see traces of green as well

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Ref 9: Firuzabad, early Sasanian

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Ref 10: Kooh Khajeh, early Sasanian (1: @metmuseum)

Note that some of these have since been destroyed & the colours are based on early recordings of the paintings

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Ref 10: Kooh Khajeh, early Sasanian

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Ref 11: Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, three magi scene

Given the date of this Roman work, the colours could represent Sasanian clothing of same era

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Ref 12: Etchmiadzin Gospels, 6-7 C CE, Matenadaran, 3 magi scenes

Note the red shoes in 2-3

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Ref 13: Ajanta Caves, possibly Iranian-Sasanian depictions

Cave 81, 1...

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Ref 14: Umayyad depictions: Qasr Amra & Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi

Note red shoes in 1-2 on Sasanian king

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Ref 15: Just one example from Bamiyan

As discussed before, this is rep of Sasanian king, as other groups are very distinctly represented already

Note possible golden colour for the jewelled bands across the chest worn by kings (apesac in Armenian)

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Ref 16: Plate @ Smithsonian

Also note golden apesac, among other details

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Ref 17: Statue of a 'Saint' from the Church in Veh Ardashir

Style of clothing is not Sasanian, but we should certainly pay attention to the colours

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Ref 18: Various Sasanian-style riding coats from Egypt, @ Berlin & Lyon

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Ref 19: Alanic kaftan

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Ref 20: red, black, heart shape, Post-Sasanian, Pahlavi Archive

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Ref 21: Shahr-i Qumis textiles @metmuseum

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Ref 22: Benaki Museum, Athens textile piece

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Ref 23: Textile from Egypt, now @ Lyon

I'm just providing one example here among many

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Ref 24: al Sabah Collection textiles, some examples

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Ref 24: al Sabah Collection examples

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Ref 24: al Sabah Collection, 2 more examples

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Ref 25: Chehrābad Salt Mines, Iran examples, with analysis of various pieces & their colours

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Ref 25: Chehrābad Salt Mines, Iran examples

In 4, we may see green & other colours in lining & other parts of shorts

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Ref 26: 2 textile pieces from Egypt, now @MuseeLouvre & Lyon

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Ref 27: pieces of textile with MP writing found in modern China or "Central Asia"

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Ref 28: Vigol and Harāskān Fire Temple

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Ref 29: Fire Temple in Qale-ye Dokhtar, Khorasan

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Ref 30: Painting from Susa

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Ref 31: examples from Hajiabad

Ref 32: Some Manichaean paintings

To this I'll just add a few examples of "west Asian" painting styles which could be studied cautiously re some similarities to Sasanian styles & colours

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Ref 32: Some Manichaean paintings